Active Programs

Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar
Cyclone Nargis, a Category 3 storm, hit Myanmar (Burma) on May 2, 2008. According to news reports, high winds, heavy rain and flood waters killed an estimated 100,000 people, and close to 50,000 are still missing. An estimated 1.5 million people are in need of emergency assistance.

Asian Tsunami
In the two years since the deadly Asian tsunami, Habitat for Humanity has assisted nearly 12,000 families as of September, 2007, with permanent housing. This number of families is expected in increase to 20,000 families, by the end of December, 2008. Habitat has built, repaired and rehabilitated houses with tsunami affected families in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
The Gulf Recovery Effort, Habitat for Humanity’s hurricane-response program, was implemented to help low-income hurricane-affected families in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama build permanent housing. The program began immediately after Hurricane Katrina and expanded after Hurricane Rita. After two years, affiliates in the Gulf have provided over 1,200 homes for families affected by these hurricanes with plans for more housing to be built over the next few years.

Pakistan Earthquake
A massive earthquake struck Pakistan and neighboring India and Afghanistan on Oct. 8, 2005. The most severe damage is near the earthquake’s epicenter, approximately 60 miles north-northeast of Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad. An estimated 3 million people became homeless as a result of the earthquake.

Lebanon Conflict
The July War of 2006 in Lebanon destroyed vital infrastructure and leveled buildings throughout the country, especially in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the Bekaa Valley and southern Lebanon. Nearly 1 million people were displaced internally during the war and over a year since the conclusion of the conflict, thousands still remain without a shelter of their own. The government of Lebanon estimates that nearly 100,000 homes were damaged during the conflict, 11,100 homes completely destroyed.

Mexico Flooding 2007
The recent floods in Mexico have been called one of the largest natural disasters in Mexican history. Since October 28, 2007, heavy rains and subsequent flooding have impaired over a million people in the states of Tabasco, Chiapas and Veracruz. It is estimated that over 80,000 people were displaced and living in temporary shelters.

Romania
The floods along the Danube River in 2006 were among the most devastating in 100 years. Habitat for Humanity International-UNICEF Romania-funded project that was started in November, 2006 on the Danube shore villages of Bechet, Macesu de Jos and Carna, ended in June, 2007. The intervention project was successful in assisting 195-plus needy families, whose homes were either completely destroyed or had structural problems.

Southeast Storms 2007
Americus: Six months after the tornado that struck Habitat for Humanity International’s “hometown,” new buildings are being constructed, families are rebuilding their homes, businesses are being repaired, and the community is being strengthened through the experience of ‘weathering the storm” together.

Other Disaster Response Programs
Habitat for Humanity is responding to disasters in Burundi, El Salvador and Nicaragua.