Humanitarian Aid

The 2015 Nepal earthquake and the importance of short- and long-term aid in response to the latest earthquake in Myanmar

On 15 April 2023, Sudan was plunged into an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has led to massive displacement of the population and claimed thousands of lives.

Due to the precarious humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, as of March 2025 Switzerland is once again present on the ground with a humanitarian office in Kabul.

Two SDC female staff share insights into the current situation in Damascus and the ongoing and future activities of the SDC in Syria.

South Sudan, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: three accounts of Switzerland's work in fragile contexts.

Since January 2025, the conflict in the DRC has resulted in more than 3,000 deaths and a similar number of wounded. In response, Switzerland is allocating CHF 3 million for humanitarian aid. This support package will go mainly to the ICRC and other partners on the ground who are already active in the areas of health, protection of the civilian population and emergency aid for displaced persons.

The SDC podcast WHY CARE? is released every month. In the podcast, guests discuss questions related to Switzerland's international cooperation.

The head of the SDC, Patricia Danzi, visited South Sudan at the beginning of January together with a Swiss delegation. All you need to know in this interview.

The SDC programme officer travelled to eastern Ukraine to find out more about local needs and the use of Swiss equipment.

Switzerland has a comprehensive approach to security. International co-operation helps to address global issues and reduce security risks.

Creative workshops run by the Dialogues on Humanity exhibition invite schools to reflect on nature, hope, dignity and the boundaries between reality and fiction.

Cambodia is one of the countries most heavily contaminated with landmines in the world. Thanks in part to Swiss support, the country can be cleared of mines and returned to the population.

Millions of hectares of forest have been destroyed in Bolivia due to major fires. The SDC has dispatched a team to provide aid to the affected populations.

Typhoon Yagi in Vietnam: The SDC deployed an emergency team of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit and supported relief efforts.

The Exhibition Dialogues on Humanity deals with our feelings about images of humanitarian crises, violence, armed conflict and natural disasters.

The objective of CALAC+ is to reduce harmful air pollutants in Latin American capitals through the deployment of soot-free engines in urban public transport

Every month, the SDC podcast A Plus For Humanity reports on international cooperation and humanitarian aid projects.

Web article on the Shelter Sustainability Assessment Tool developed by the Geneva Technical Hub with support of the SDC.

A guest article by the WFP on its Anticipatory Action programme, which focuses on managing the risks of climate extremes and the food insecurity they cause.

In Haiti, the SDC rapidly and effectively integrated emergency relief with reconstruction and development projects, thereby creating synergies.

Switzerland supports millions of people in Southern Africa, in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, with CHF 4.7 million in the fight against drought and hunger.

The conference is one of the stops on the way to the Ukraine Mine Action Conference, which will take place in Lausanne in October.

Increasing conflicts and wars make peacebuilding all the more relevant. Find out how Switzerland actively promotes peace.

One year after the coup in Myanmar, Switzerland remains proactive. Two SDC experts, Thin Myat Khine and Giacomo Solari, report from Yangon.

Article on SDC's commitment in the humanitarian crisis in Sudan and in Egypt, Chad and South Sudan.

The conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is forcing many people to flee their homes. Switzerland is supporting the people in need.

Interview with the general director of the SDC, Patricia Danzi, on her visit to Benin and Chad, where she went to Adré, on the border with Sudan.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, the SDC established a sustainable DRR system for Central America.

Web-article for World Humanitarian Day with testimonials from local SDC staff.

The Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, here are some images and videos of its programmes and operations from around the world.

Faces, stories, facts and figures: The SDC and SECO interactive annual report reviews the year 2022.

The World Bank's definition of extreme absolute poverty is ubiquitous in international cooperation and has shaped public perception of global poverty. Last year the international poverty line (IPL) was raised from USD 1.90 to USD 2.15 a day, but the indicator and its value continue to generate debate.

Following the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, Switzerland is providing humanitarian assistance.

Eyewitness reports of medical specialists from the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit who were deployed in Türkiye after the earthquakes.

The SDC has prepared an action plan to help the Ukrainian population to cope this winter.

The conflict in Syria has led to one of the biggest humanitarian crises in the world. In this interview, SDC specialist Caroline Tissot talks about how Switzerland is helping people in need on the ground.

Millions of people are affected by the consequences of the drought in East Africa. The situation is dire.

828 million suffer from hunger worldwide. Climate change, conflicts, COVID-19, and economic crises: the global food crisis has multiple causes.

The global food crisis is one of the main challenges that the world faces today. SDC is working collaboratively and across sectors to mitigate its impact.

Together with Ambassador Maya Tissafi, SDC Director General Patricia Danzi has visited Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. The focus was on humanitarian work.

International cooperation has undergone a constant shift in values over the past 60 years, making Switzerland a credible actor for sustainable development.

Flooding in Nigeria and Chad: Switzerland releases CHF 1.5 million to help victims.

Pakistan was struck by severe flooding in late August. The SDC released CHF 3 million in emergency aid and deployed a SHA team to assist on the ground.

Diplomat and former Swiss State Secretary Peter Maurer is stepping down as ICRC President. His 10 years in office have shaped humanitarian aid worldwide.

In response to the war in Ukraine, Switzerland is realigning its international cooperation work. Voices about IC.

Switzerland is advocating effective measures at the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Bali, 23–28.05.2022.

The FDFA is organising the first International Cooperation Forum on climate change from 31 March to 1 April 2022 in Geneva.

At the UN High-Level Pledging Event for Yemen, President of the Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis reaffirmed Switzerland's support for the Yemeni people.

Director General Patricia Danzi discusses how the fall of the Berlin Wall has influenced international cooperation – and her vision of a networked future for the SDC.

To mark World Humanitarian Day and the first anniversary of the Beirut explosion, the FDFA profiles a Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit expert who was involved in the reconstruction of the Lebanese capital.

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will adapt its organisational structure over the coming year.

An interview with SDC Director General Patricia Danzi on the added value of Swiss international cooperation, including a glimpse into its future.

Development cooperation can provide people with long-term support. The SDC Director General visited Afghanistan to see the situation on the ground.

Switzerland and the UNHCR have launched a centre of expertise dedicated to the greening of humanitarian action, the Geneva Technical Hub.

Switzerland delivers humanitarian assistance to Nepal: by combining development cooperation and emergency aid, Switzerland has been able to lend a highly effective helping hand to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19.

The 2020 annual report lays out the swift and effective response by Switzerland's international cooperation to mitigate the serious social, economic and humanitarian consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The United Nations held a virtual high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, co-hosted by the governments of Sweden and Switzerland.

Guest article by SDC Director-General Patricia Danzi on the partnership with Swiss non-governmental organisations in development cooperation.

The Geneva Global Hub for Education in Emergencies, launched on 25 January 2021, has the potential to create long-term prospects for children and youth affected by humanitarian crises.

At the request of the Croatian authorities, Swiss Humanitarian Aid provides emergency shelter for earthquake survivors.