HALO’s work often extends far beyond the minefield. During times of crisis or natural disasters like floods and earthquakes, we are often one of the first to respond and provide humanitarian aid to affected people. Our extensive local workforce means that when disaster or crisis strikes, we already have boots on the ground and are ready to use our vehicles, mechanical equipment, supplies, medics, and resources to reach families when help is urgently needed.
IMMEDIATE AID, LIFESAVING IMPACT
The HALO Disaster & Crisis Response Fund is crucial for enabling us to respond to emergencies. Your contributions allow us to provide immediate, life-saving aid, ensuring that no community faces the aftermath of a disaster alone. This fund supports HALO’s preparedness efforts, enabling us to stay ready for the next crisis and deliver aid where it is needed most, and as soon as it is needed. Please help us continue this essential work.
Emergency Medical Aid & Support
Rapid deployment of paramedic teams to provide fast first aid and live-saving interventions in disaster zones.
Debris and Rubble Clearance
Repurposing landmine clearance machinery to clear debris and rubble from roads and homes after earthquakes, redirect floodways and reconstruct waterways after flooding.
Food & Essential Supplies Distribution
Delivery of food packages, clean water, and essential living supplies to affected communities.
Cash Assistance Programs
In some crisis, what families need most is cash. Providing direct financial support to meet immediate needs and accelerate recovery.
HALO's Impact in Action
Read on to see where supporters have made a difference supporting HALO’s Disaster & Crisis Response.
Photo by Scout Tufankjian. Nagorno Karabakh refugees, September 28, 2023.
As Karabakhi families were displaced to Armenia, in the fall of 2023, HALO launched a Cash Payment Assistance program to support refugee families. So far, we have disbursed 392 direct cash payments, from $150 to $280, supporting 257 households and 1,285 people within these households. These funds have been used to help families resettle in Armenia and are being used for essential needs like emergency relocation and sustenance.
Afghanistan: Immediate and Effective Assistance
Afghanistan remains one of the most affected countries by natural disasters and humanitarian crises due to its geographical location and environmental factors. HALO is increasingly providing support to major emergencies in Afghanistan outside of our normal operations.
In 2022, for example, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck Paktika and Khost provinces, HALO was a first responder with paramedics and doctors providing first aid, food supplies, and water. HALO then conducted rubble clearance from 403 homes, clearing foundations and making space for people to rebuild their homes or create temporary shelters to survive the harsh upcoming winter. HALO also responded to several floods this year.
Since then, HALO has continued to respond to disasters in Afghanistan. In May 2024, the northern, northeastern, and western provinces of Afghanistan were severely affected by flash floods, killing hundreds of people and destroying hundreds of houses. The flooding also severely damaged schools, roads, agricultural land, and other infrastructure. Based on a BBC Pashto report, the northeastern province of Baghlan was gravely impacted, with more than 300 people killed, and 1600 injured. HALO responded by distributing essential food and non-food packages to affected families.
In Afghanistan, when funding is available, HALO is able to operate and respond to disasters at scale by mobilizing our teams and equipment to support with rubble removal, waterway reconstruction, and road reconstruction. We are also able to deploy mobile clinics, distribute food and dignity kids, and conduct rapid needs assessments, among other efforts needed.
At the onset of the war in Ukraine, HALO utilized our vehicles, supplies, medics, and resources to provide humanitarian aid and crisis relief. We sheltered civilians, provided medical support, taught first aid, and delivered supplies like food, diapers, and formula to community centers. We are now focusing our efforts on clearing the explosive debris from the fighting. We have also been supporting families through the food crisis as we are clearing landmines from farm fields.
Syria Earthquake Response
When the earthquake rocked Syria and Turkey in early 2023, HALO was ready to provide relief to the victims. Alongside the rubble removal and debris clearance, HALO provided support to shelter centers, bridging the gaps between victims and specialized services needed, such as providing transportation to medical centers.
“People made a lot of donations. They gave clothes, food, cash, everything they had that could help. It is great to witness that.”
- Nour Shihan, Case Worker, HALO Syria
Nagorno Karabakh Water Crisis Response
In August 2021, the people of Stepanakert, in Nagorno Karabakh, suffered a brutal heatwave and a water crisis. In response, HALO mobilized our teams and delivered water to residential areas, providing clean water to more than 300 households.
COVID-19 Pandemic
HALO’s COVID-19 emergency relief efforts supported over 1 million people in 15 countries. Thanks to our supporters, we provided ambulances to transport the sick, constructed triage centers, ensured vital medical supplies reach remote villages, and delivered hygiene kits to refugee camps and food supplies to hungry families.
WHEN CRISIS STRIKES, HALO ACTS.
YOUR SUPPORT TURNS OUR READINESS INTO ACTION.
Your gift to HALO's Disaster & Crisis Response Fund enables us to act swiftly—mobilizing our teams to provide immediate aid and coordinate with local authorities in times of earthquakes, floods, avalanches, and conflict. THANK YOU.
