The first 24 hours in a disaster situation

Natural disasters often have serious consequences for the population affected. They destroy houses and belongings and people lose not only their livelihoods, but often enough they also lose members of their family and, last but not least, their dignity. That is why rapid help is needed in an emergency. Within a very short time the German Red Cross will start a relief flight that will supply a disaster region with vital relief supplies.

Every minute counts in a disaster situation

The most important rules of deployment are: assess, take action. Before targeted relief measures are able to start, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies sends an Assessment team of experts out to the crisis region. They assess the situation on the scene within a very short time. With this knowledge, specific relief measures — such as the procurement of relief supplies — can be started as quickly as possible. Also important in all this is coordination with the United Nations and government authorities in the respective country.