JDC's Disaster Response Work

Inspired by the spirit of tikkun olam, the Jewish moral responsibility to improve the human condition for all global citizens, JDC provides non-sectarian disaster relief and long-term development assistance worldwide. JDC’s approach to disaster relief is twofold: Immediate action is taken to provide an emergency response to the most vulnerable victims of man-made or natural disasters, such as earthquakes, famine, or war.

Once JDC opens a mailbox to accept donations and the most urgent needs have been met, JDC assesses the situation on the ground and partners with one or more local organizations to develop and implement innovative programs to help restore vitality and produce sustainable results for the affected communities in the long term.

Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response

JDC is currently accepting donations to support its relief efforts following the catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti yesterday evening, the worst in over 200 years. Now, and in the months to come, JDC will provide both immediate relief—as well as long-term assistance to help the Haitian people rebuild their lives. JDC is conducting a full and rapid assessment of the situation on the ground, while reaching out to its network of partners to determine critical next steps based on immediate needs. These efforts are part of JDC’s International Development Program (IDP), which provides immediate relief and long-term assistance to victims of natural and manmade disasters. JDC, as Chair of the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, is coordinating the Haiti related efforts of its 45 member organizations.
Read more about JDC's Haiti Earthquake Disaster Response efforts.

Asia Pacific Disaster Response

JDC is currently accepting donations to support its relief efforts following two earthquake-related disasters in the Asia Pacific region: in the tsunami-wracked Samoan islands and on the Indonesian island of Sumatra; as well as the Tropical Storm Parma, which strengthened to a typhoon and two cyclones in the Philippines, leaving hundreds dead and thousands homeless. JDC is conducting a full needs assessment on the ground, and reaching out to its network of local, Israeli, and other international partners to determine critical next steps based on gaps in humanitarian assistance to victims in the hardest-hit areas.
Read more about JDC's Asia Pacific Disaster Response efforts.

Pakistan Earthquake Relief

On October 29, 2008, a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Pakistan, northeast of the provincial capital Quetta. As part of its crisis relief work, JDC collected funds to directly assist victims of the quake. JDC worked with the International Blue Crescent—a partner in JDC’s efforts following the 2005 earthquake disaster in Pakistan—to deliver immediate relief supplies to the hardest hit and most remote areas. JDC distributed foodstuffs, blankets, bedding, hygiene kits, water purification tablets, and warm clothing to help victims combat the recent sub-zero temperatures.
Read JDC's Latest Pakistan Earthquake Situation Report.

Russia-Georgia Conflict

Following the eruption of the Russia-Georgia conflict on August 7, 2008, JDC partnered with the Georgian Red Cross to purchase an ambulance and provide urgent relief, including food, water, and medicines; and with MASHAV, the Center for International Development of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to coordinate the shipment of additional, critical medical supplies. JDC continues to assess the needs of the region and develop a strategy for long-term assistance to those displaced and affected by the conflict.
Read JDC's 2008 Georgia-Russia Conflict Update.

China Earthquake

China's worst earthquake in more than 30 years devastated Sichuan and eight additional provinces on May 12, 2008, killing more than 70,000 people, injuring some 374,000, and completely destroying the homes of 1.39 million families. After opening an emergency mailbox and assessing the most critical unmet needs on the ground, JDC is supporting a partnership between The All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives (ACFSMC) and the Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED). The reconstruction project applies ACFSMC’s expertise in the management of cooperatives, rural development, and the promotion of entrepreneurship to the process of rebuilding the rural areas of Sichuan devastated by the earthquake. NISPED, which also collaborated in post-Tsunami reconstruction in Sri Lanka, will host a series of study missions in Israel to share Israeli rural development experience with ACFSMC’s senior management and other leaders to enhance efforts in China and possible future collaborations between the two organizations.
Read Latest China Earthquake Situation Report.

Myanmar Cyclone

JDC was among the first and only aid organizations to enter Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta following Cyclone Nargis, which struck on May 2–3, 2008, killing or displacing a government-estimated 134,000 people and affecting approximately 2.4 million people. Following its coordination with MASHAV and other nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to immediately provide water, food, and medical supplies, JDC has since partnered with local NGOs to rebuild the affected region’s schools, homes, and embankments destroyed by the cyclone.
Read Latest Myanmar Cyclone Situation Report.

Bangladesh Cyclone

Some 3,000 people died and an estimated 3.3 million were made homeless after Cyclone Sidr hit coastal areas of Bangladesh on November 15, 2007. JDC, through the International Blue Crescent (IBC), provided immediate humanitarian aid in the form of food, medicines, and other emergency assistance for the affected areas. In full coordination with the local community and NGOs, JDC and IBC are implementing two major interventions critical to the region’s long-term recovery. The first—a fisherman support project—is enabling 70 of the poorest fishing families to sustain themselves independently and earn five to six times the average local income. And a hygiene promotion project is successfully raising health awareness and improving hygiene practices among residents of the local villages to improve well-being in the region.
Read Latest Bangladesh Cyclone Situation Report.

Peru Earthquake

The earthquake that struck Peru on August 15, 2007, killed over 500 people and injured more than 1,500. JDC worked closely with the Peruvian Jewish community’s appointed Emergency Committee to provide victims with immediate emergency aid—including 20 tons of material assistance—and brought a team of eight Israeli medical professionals to the area. JDC rebuilt a rural primary school that had been severely damaged by the earthquake and reopened it in August 2008. Local Jewish engineers are training local builders in antiseismic construction skills to protect buildings against damage in future disasters.
Read Latest Peru Earthquake Situation Report.

Indonesia Earthquake Relief

On May 27, 2006, the southern coast of Indonesia’s island of Java was struck by an earthquake, causing massive damage around the city of Yogyakarta. The tragedy caused the deaths of more than 5,750 people, wounded nearly 36,500, and displaced as many as 650,000. JDC, in conjunction with local tsunami relief partner Dwi Yuna Jaya, funded food packages and temporary shelters for the local population. On the decimated school grounds of six poor communities, large military tents were erected that were for the benefit of 5,700 children. In addition to the temporary schools, writing materials, textbooks, and other school supplies were distributed.

Kashmir Earthquake Relief

An earthquake struck northern Pakistan on October 8, 2005, causing the deaths of more than 73,000 people. The damage extended past Pakistani-controlled Kashmir into parts of India and Afghanistan. With assistance from local partners, JDC was able to extend its reach beyond that of other aid agencies. Winterized bedding kits were distributed to 5,000 direct beneficiaries. In partnership with Catholic Relief Services/India, JDC created psychosocial support programs to help school-age children, and furnished and supplied 20 activity centers with recreational equipment and musical instruments. To help prevent further damage to the region, JDC collaborated with the International Blue Crescent and the Development Foundation of Turkey to create safe-building training and provision of technical assistance for local reconstruction efforts.

South Asia Tsunami Relief

The devastating earthquake resulting in tsunamis that hit several coastal countries bordering the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004, left 300,000 people dead in its wake and over 5 million more displaced. A JDC mailbox was opened that quickly collected $19.7 million in donations. Along with its partners, JDC aimed to focus its relief efforts on the hardest-hit countries: India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Community centers were constructed to provide community- based services for thousands of local residents. Microlending enterprises sought to reinvigorate local industry, providing new employment opportunities. Educational activities were implemented, as were the renovation and construction of schools and playgrounds. Finally, through education, skill building, and infrastructure development, JDC aims to prepare local communities and their leaders for future crisis management and mitigation.