The Humanitarian Coalition members are taking care of basic survival needs and helping people rebuild their lives when their homes, schools and livelihoods have been devastated by a disaster. Learn more about these crises and meet people who have benefited from your support.
Upon her arrival, Noor searched the refugee camps for her husband, but she could not find him. She says she was very afraid to live alone without him, and feared for the safety of her daughters. As the days went on, she became frustrated as she tried to work out how she would support her family without him.
Selsi lost her best friend when the powerful earthquake and tsunami struck Central Sulawesi in Indonesia. “Wulan was praying near me. I didn’t have time to grab her hand. She was inside the Musholla (prayer room) and I saw the roof collapse. I could run and save my own life, but not Wulan,” says Selsi, unable to hide the sadness in her eyes.
2019 has been a painful year so far for Mable Nyambalo. The 50-year-old mother of five lost her husband in January. And then in mid-March, her house was destroyed by flooding caused by Cyclone Idai and she lost everything she owned.
“We only learnt that we were in danger when we saw water coming through the door,” said Dimingu Nyoka. “I grabbed my grandchildren and launched them over the falling wall. I also did the same with my wife as she has some problems with her legs.”
Twelve-year-old Florida hopes to become a nurse one day. She came top in her class last term but now her future hangs in the balance, after floods in the wake of Cyclone Idai crashed into her village in Malawi last month, destroying everything in their path.
“All I could think about was saving myself and my baby. I climbed on top of a tree. I spent four days on top of the tree before I saw a boat coming. I was so tired but so happy that help was finally coming.”
In 2018, the Humanitarian Coalition helped save thousands of people, protected children and women, and gave families the opportunity to rebuild their lives after they had lost everything. Click on the links to read the stories of people whose lives were transformed through the work of the Humanitarian Coalition thanks to the generosity of our donors, the support of the Canadian government, and the impact of leading aid agencies working together.
“We are drinking dirty water,” she said. “We want something to purify our water. Our children are getting sick with diarrhea and other diseases.”
“We were very disheartened,” says Gulnaz Bibi as she recounts the day Tropical Cyclone Keni hit the western side of the beautiful Fiji Island where she lives.
Habiba has not had an easy life. And every time the 40-year-old mother of 10 overcomes one hardship, it seems like life is waiting to throw another challenge at her. What would it take to give this courageous woman some relief?
“Before the earthquake we were happy, and life was normal,” said Jocelyn. “I was four months pregnant when it happened, and I had a one-year-old son. I was so afraid. I grabbed the baby and ran. My first thought was my baby, but I was so relieved to see my husband alive.”