Global relief to people in need

There is practically no other country which has been hit as hard by the effects of climate change as Bangladesh. This is mainly due to its location on the Bay of Bengal and the many waterways of the Ganges Delta. Therefore, together with our local partner organisation, the Centre for Disability in Development (CDD), the ASB is helping to protect people from the effects of climate change.

The ASB has been operating in the Philippines since 2013. The focus of the work is on providing care and protection to populations in the aftermath of disasters and particularly vulnerable people, making them more resilient and resistant to unforeseen events such as natural disasters, economic challenges or social changes.

The ASB cooperates with the local partner organisation “READ Bhutan”. The aim of the joint projects is to minimise the impact of disasters and crises on the people of Bhutan and to create inclusive and sustainable livelihoods in order to improve the quality of life of the population.

The ASB has been active in Indonesia since 2006. Projects are implemented through the Regional Office for Indonesia and the Philippines, based in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and a wide network of local and national partner organisations. In particular, the focus is on organisations representing the interests and needs of the elderly and people with disabilities. The aim is to better prepare communities for natural disasters and climate change.

The ASB has been operating in Nepal since the major earthquake that struck the country in April 2015. Initially, the focus of the work was on the care and protection of those affected after the disaster as well as on reconstruction. This was followed by the earthquake-proof and accessible reconstruction of two educational institutions as well as the implementation of inclusive training offers, among other things, by creating an accessible learning environment or translating the training content into sign language.

El Salvador is severely affected by the migration of its population. Most of the migrant population is headed north to try to reach the US. This problem is the result of high levels of violence, limited employment opportunities, the impact of the climate crisis and food insecurity, not to mention weak local government structures. The ASB helps to create prospects to allow people to stay, and supports them in dealing with the effects of climate change.

Honduras is one of the countries most affected by climate change. Large parts of the country are located in what is known as the Central American Dry Corridor, which is affected by recurrent droughts. Low crop yields, lack of productive expansion and declining employment opportunities are leading to food insecurity and large numbers of people emigrating.

Guatemala has vast socio-economic and political inequalities. The poverty rate is particularly high among rural and indigenous population groups. The country is also affected by high climate variability and extreme weather events. These fluctuations in weather conditions, combined with the insufficient adaptation of production systems to climate change, have a significant impact on production yields. They threaten the food security of those who are most vulnerable.

In recent decades, social and economic conditions in Colombia have improved significantly. Despite existing political and economic inequalities, the country has developed into an emerging economy. Despite the peace agreement, however, conflicts continue to uproot the population. Colombia is the main host country for more than seven million refugees from Venezuela, who often face discrimination due to their migration status.

Nicaragua is one of the countries at high risk of crisis situations and humanitarian disasters due to its geographical situation and exposure to natural disasters. In addition, the population, especially in remote regions, is not sufficiently prepared for disasters and has little capacity to cope with them. Disaster situations disproportionately affect people with disabilities.

Much of Venezuela’s population is poor. The country is heavily indebted to other countries and corruption is rife. Natural disasters are exacerbating social and political problems in Venezuela. At present, the South American country is in a serious political crisis. The humanitarian situation is catastrophic. The violence, persecution, repression, lack of food and medicine, and lack of medical care have caused many Venezuelans to flee the country, causing one of the largest migration crises in Latin America’s recent history.

Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the world, marked by violent conflicts and natural disasters. Earthquakes, economic instability and a deteriorating security situation are determining the everyday lives of the inhabitants of this small island nation. The already extremely complex crisis in the country has further intensified since the cholera outbreak at the beginning of October 2022.

The ASB started operations in Serbia in 1999 and has since used more than € 40 million in EU, German and private donations. The funds have helped 70,000 people in 80 municipalities, (re-)built 1,200 homes and provided economic support to more than 2,000 families. In its work in Serbia, the ASB carries out relief, reconstruction and development projects as well as projects on social inclusion

The ASB has been active in the social sector in Kosovo since 1998. It supports the reconstruction of housing and the restoration of social and public infrastructure. The ASB was one of the first aid organisations to return to Kosovo after the cessation of hostilities and began emergency aid for the inhabitants directly. Over the past five years, the ASB has focused much of its activities in Kosovo on strengthening vulnerable and rural households socio-economically.

The first humanitarian convoys that brought much-needed aid to the besieged city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992, a year of war, carried the ASB logo. ASB has been helping people in need in Bosnia for 30 years. Through numerous projects in the areas of emergency relief, return and reintegration, socio-economic integration, housing and infrastructure, as well as strengthening civil society, 30,000 people in more than 80 municipalities throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina have been supported. In addition, the ASB office in Sarajevo acts as a regional office for South East Europe, supporting projects in the Balkan countries.

The ASB has been active in Ukraine since 1993 and works closely with the local Samaritan Federation (SSU) on the ground. Since the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014, Samaritans, together with local partner organisations, have been helping people in need. Currently, the ASB provides aids to the population in the occupied territories in the east and supports internally displaced persons as well as host communities in western and central Ukraine. Since 2016, the ASB has also been registered in Ukraine as an independent non-governmental organisation. There are currently around 15 staff members working in the Kiev and Lviv offices.

The ASB began operations in Greece in response to the refugee crisis affecting this part of Europe in 2016. The ASB’s engagement in Greece therefore started as early as March 2016, although the ASB’s foreign office in Thessaloniki, in northern Greece, only opened in June 2016. Currently, the ASB supports the three refugee camps of Katsika, Filippiada and Agia Eleni through the provision of social services.

Since the end of 2010, ASB Georgia has carried out projects with funds from the EU, Germany and the US. These projects ranged from disaster risk reduction to social services and support for vulnerable groups. Today, the ASB works with various Georgian organisations to improve the lives of Georgian people and help them become less dependent on other countries.