Milestones in ASB's foreign aid

On November 4, 1921, ASB's first humanitarian mission abroad began. Come with us on a journey through time. We will take you back to the year 1921, when ASB saved people from starvation with its first foreign humanitarian aid mission in Russia. Take a look back with us at other milestones: ASB's aid in the Balkans in 1991, the mission in September 2004 after the tsunami in Southeast Asia and the severe earthquake in Haiti in January 2010. On our journey through time, you will also learn more about International Samaritan Cooperation (ISK) and our FAST team, our rapid response team abroad.

ASB's foreign aid history at a glance

1921: The beginnings of ASB’s foreign aid - humanitarian aid during the famine in Russia

In 1921, a devastating famine descended on Russia. There was terrible hardship and misery. A three-year drought had left the region between the Don and Volga rivers, which is vital for grain production, facing a failed harvest. Up to 20 million people were threatened by starvation. In addition, diseases such as cholera and typhoid were spreading.

1991: ASB launches its humanitarian aid mission in the Balkans

After the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991 and the beginning of the Yugoslav Wars, the ASB launched one of its longest humanitarian aid missions abroad. The ASB helped refugees, set up outpatient medical facilities and organised aid convoys. The first humanitarian convoys that went to the besieged city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 bore the logo of the ASB.

1992: The start of International Samaritan Cooperation

International Samaritan Cooperation (ISK) has existed for almost 30 years and is the result of the cooperation between German ASB branches and Samaritan organisations in Central and Eastern Europe. So much has been experienced, so many activities have taken place with so many stories to tell about the ISK that it would go far beyond the scope of this article.

2004: ASB provides emergency aid after devastating tsunami in Southeast Asia

On 26 December 2004, a massive undersea earthquake shook the Indian Ocean and triggered a huge tsunami with tidal waves up to 40 meters high. Large parts of the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and India were destroyed.

2010: ASB helps after major earthquake in Haiti

On 12 January 2010 at 4:53pm local time, the most severe earthquake in the history of North and South America devastated Haiti. It reached 7.0 on the Richter scale and was located only 25 kilometres south west of the capital Port-au-Prince, destroying large parts of the greater Port-au-Prince area. With at least 220,000 people dead, 300,000 injured and 1.85 million homeless, as well as massive destruction of businesses and public infrastructure, the earthquake had a devastating impact on the country.

2017: ASB’s FAST is certified by the WHO

In June 2017, the First Assistance Samaritan Team (FAST), the ASB’s rapid response team for operations abroad, was successfully certified by the World Health Organization (WHO). As the first team of an aid organisation worldwide, FAST has been certified by the WHO as an ‘Emergency Medical Team 1 type 1 fixed’ (EMT 1). ‘EMT T 1’ refers to emergency medical teams that provide outpatient medical assistance during emergencies such as natural disasters. FAST was among the first teams from an aid organisation to meet the high standards and successfully pass the WHO certification process.