Humanitarian and Disaster Support
What is Humanitarian and Disaster Support?

Humanitarian Disaster Support is now referred to as Humanitarian 3Rs (Response, Relief and Recovery). Humanitarian Disaster Support is to respond rapidly to unexpected natural or human disasters and to be able to aid in ways that will have considerable and rapid positive impact.

The Humanitarian and Disaster Support (HDS) portfolio supports disaster preparedness, response and recovery initiatives which are implemented in collaboration with strategic partners.

Humanitarian relief: This impact area focuses on supporting disaster response and recovery including rehabilitation. Key projects include disaster response initiatives linked to the floods in South Africa and Malawi, the social unrest, and the spread of cholera in South Africa, as well as response to drought-hit conditions. A primary recovery initiative is the rebuild of affordable housing in KZN post the floods.

Disaster support: focuses on disaster mitigation and prevention as well as building safe and resilient communities. Key focus areas include disaster risk reduction, gender-based violence and femicide(GBVF), food security and livelihoods as well as peace building and social cohesion. Key projects include initiatives that focus on creating awareness about GBVF such as the What about the Boys? programme.

Objectives

  • Target communities that are vulnerable, and with high-risk exposure, to common hazards in the country.
  • Adopt a proactive approach with more emphasis on:
    • Risk reduction - preventing new and reducing existing risks and strengthening resilience among our communities.
    • Response - focusing on short, medium to long-term measures.
    • Recovery - ensure that communities bounce forward after disasters.
  • Aim to make impactful humanitarian interventions and provide support within the required national and international frameworks to save lives, create awareness, reduce the impact of disaster, respond effectively, build resilience among vulnerable communities, and foster strategic relations with relevant stakeholders.