Journey to a Dollar

Within minutes, check in with our “nerve center.”

Based in New York, the “nerve center” is a 24/7 information hub that monitors crises around the world. In real-time, it tells us:

How many children are affected, where they are and what they need
The extent of the damage
Whether UNICEF staff members are safe

Within hours, connect with the national government.

UNICEF has close relationships with governments around the world and is a trusted partner. That means we immediately connect with the country affected by the disaster and determine how we can work together.

UNICEF is there to respond — no matter where a disaster hits.

Roll over the map to see a few of the recent crises we’ve responded to, with the support of donors like you:

Earthquakes

Hurricanes

Crises

Ecuador

April 2016.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake strikes. UNICEF reaches 250,000 children with emergency nutrition.

Nepal

April 2015.
Two earthquakes leave nearly 9,000 people dead. UNICEF provides safe water to 305,100 people and vaccinates 500,000 children against measles and rubella.

Mexico

September 2017.
Two earthquakes destroy 14,908 schools. UNICEF sets up 100,000 temporary learning spaces for children to continue their education.

Iran and Iraq

November 2017.
Deadliest earthquake of the year. UNICEF reaches 1.8 million people with safe water.

Haiti

October 2016.
Hurricane Matthew destroys 90% of some regions. UNICEF helps provide 550,000 people with safe drinking water.

Caribbean

September 2017.
Hurricane Irma — the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic — sweeps through Anguilla, Barbuda, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, US Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Cuba and Haiti. UNICEF responds immediately with emergency aid.

Bangladesh

Ongoing.
Two million Rohingya refugees are in need of humanitarian aid. UNICEF has helped prevent a deadly cholera outbreak in refugee camps by vaccinating 900,000 children and adults.

South Sudan

2017.
Severe famine leaves six million people struggling to find food each day. UNICEF reaches 161,484 children with treatment for severe acute malnutrition.

Syria

Ongoing.
Children have endured seven years of a brutal civil war. In 2017, UNICEF provided 487,000 children with warm winter blankets and clothing to help them survive a harsh winter.

Survey the scene ASAP.

UNICEF uses innovative tools like drones to survey damage in the wake of a disaster, and data science to determine the number and location of children in need of urgent aid.

A drone flies over regions of Nepal 24-48 hours after a devastating earthquake in April 2015.

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
An 11-year-old boy stands in front of his home, which was destroyed by the April 2015 earthquake.

Coordinate a rapid response.

UNICEF works closely with other organizations to make sure children receive the support they need. We lead the emergency response on nutrition, water, sanitation, hygiene, child protection and education.

Ship emergency aid.

UNICEF can ship lifesaving supplies to children almost anywhere in the world within 72 hours. If a local warehouse cannot meet the demand, we ship from our large global warehouse in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copenhagen, Denmark
A view of one of the upper levels of UNICEF’s global warehouse.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti
At a local supply warehouse, a worker loads boxes of recreation kits for children.

Reach every child — whatever it takes.

Our staff members have even transported supplies on mules or in canoes. Because we’ve monitored the disaster’s aftermath carefully and partnered with organizations and governments, we reach children with exactly the supplies they need.

Local partners transport UNICEF-provided vaccines over difficult terrain to remote areas of Nepal that were hit by the 2015 earthquake.

We stick around.

UNICEF doesn’t parachute into a country and leave. We are on the ground helping children before, during and after a disaster strikes. When the camera crews head home, we remain focused on building a better world for children.

Hey, saving a child's life starts with your dollar.

Even a small donation can send lifesaving supplies to a child in danger.