Every year, conflicts and disasters force millions of children and their families to flee their homes. Many seek refuge in humanitarian camps or in cities — often for years — for safety, shelter, food, clean water and livelihood opportunities.

When an emergency strikes, time is of the essence. Supplies like food, medicines and hygiene kits are needed immediately, not several days later. To provide the most timely and efficient response, we give unrestricted emergency funding to a select few partner organisations, who work mainly in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

We trust our partners, as experts in their field, to deliver life-saving support for families affected by disasters, and help people get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Our unrestricted grants also enable our partners to respond to unseen emergencies, which the media and the world either don’t know about or have forgotten.

Sometimes, crises can often be seen unfolding before our very eyes, and often we don’t react until human suffering and environmental damage is already taking place. That’s why we work with partners who understand the need to help communities prepare for disasters before they happen, and to cope before the international response arrives on the scene.

We also invest in new ideas and research around climate action and support for vulnerable families to create sustainable livelihoods. We know continued innovation is essential to help people afford a better life, while also protecting the planet.