Disaster Response – Completed Response Project

AFGHANISTAN
In northern Afghanistan, Habitat for Humanity provided materials, tools and technical expertise to Afghan families in need to rebuild or repair their houses damaged by one of the worst complex disaster situations in the world that included armed conflict, civil unrest, a four-year drought and an earthquake.

Returning home from refugee camps, thousands of Afghans found their houses completely destroyed or without any roof, doors or windows. These items were systematically looted from countless houses during the Taliban rule or damaged by war actions.

On March 25, 2002, a powerful earthquake exacerbated the situation, killing as many as 1,000 people and damaging thousands of homes in northern Afghanistan.

After 18 months of hard work in Afghanistan, nearly 335 families in the villages of Salbarun and Temorak in Balkh province have simple, decent Afghan dome houses to live in. In a partnership with Shelter for Life, Habitat also supported efforts to provide shelter assistance for up to 5,000 earthquake-affected families in Nahrin, Baghlan province.

ANGOLA
Over the course of nearly three decades, Angola struggled to survive one of the most protracted conflicts in recent history. During this period, more than 4 million people were displaced and 400,000 fled as refugees to neighboring countries. Subsequent peace accords opened the door for families to return to their communities, only to find widespread destruction and ruin. Many lived in cramped refugee camps and temporary shelters. There was an overwhelming need for decent, safe and affordable housing for families looking to rebuild their lives and provide a future for their children.

Habitat for Humanity worked to support more than 500 families with innovative programs that combined housing with savings schemes through the Save & Build program.

CARRIBEAN
During 2004 the island countries of Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago were devastated by hurricanes, incredibly heavy rains and strong winds. Villages that were extremely poor before the devastation now had even fewer resources to manage their daily lives. Habitat for Humanity worked with communities in some of the most severely affected areas of these Caribbean nations to help them rebuild their homes and their lives.

In the Haitian communities of Fond Vertees, Les Cayes and Jacmel, Habitat worked with 130 local families to provide permanent housing solutions. In the Dominican Republic, nearly 100 families were assisted in the communities of Rio Mar, El Factor and Matancita. Throughout Jamaica, 140 families affected by Hurricane Ivan received assistance. A minimum of 155 low-income Grenadian families were also assisted with house repairs and construction skills training.

CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
Nearly 5,000 houses were built during 1999-2000 in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic in response to the destruction brought by hurricanes Georges and Mitch in 1998

CENTRAL AMERICA FLOODING
Hurricane Stan hit Veracruz, Mexico, on Oct. 4, 2005, and began generating separate storms that wreaked havoc throughout southern Mexico and parts of Central America. The heavy rainfall from the storms caused severe flooding and mudslides, affecting millions of people in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. More than 500,000 people lost their homes. Some villages were completely buried by the mudslides. Destroyed roads and infrastructure hampered rescue and relief efforts in some remote areas.

Habitat for Humanity has strong national programs in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador, the countries hardest hit by floods and mudslides resulting from Hurricane Stan. While Habitat has initiated long-term reconstruction activities, it is also assisting other organizations with response efforts.

Over time, Habitat plans to assist affected families across the three involved countries. So far, nearly 200 families have been assisted with new housing, repairs and other services in Quetzaltenango, Solosa, San Marcos and Jutiapa in Guatemala and Veracruz and Chiapas in Mexico. Response activities also include securing land to build new communities for villages that were completely destroyed by mudslides. Habitat for Humanity is seeking funding to support the longer-term response and reconstruction.

EL SALVADOR
Local affiliates built 727 houses for families affected by consecutive earthquakes in January and February of 2001. Twenty-eight of those homes were constructed during a one-week blitz build in celebration of Holy Week in March 2002.

FLORIDA
During hurricane season in 2004, thousands of families in many parts of Florida endured some of the most devastating hurricanes in recent history. In just six weeks, four massive storms pounded the state, tearing off roofs, knocking down walls and power lines, and leaving thousands homeless. Habitat for Humanity worked with communities throughout the state to repair and rebuild.

GEORGIA, USA
Sixteen homes were built during a blitz build for families who lost their homes to tornadoes in Camilla, Ga.

GUJARAT, INDIA
In partnership with other organizations, Habitat built homes for families left homeless when an earthquake shook the region in January 2001. The project was completed in 2003 when 664 houses were built in the villages of Sikhra and Khumbariya

INDONESIA EARTHQUAKE 2007
Rebuilding after disasters is never an easy task as Habitat for Humanity Indonesia’s affiliate in Yogyakarta experienced first-hand following the May 2006 earthquake in the province in eastern Java.

In the aftermath of the disaster, HFH Yogyakarta launched immediately into assisting local communities. Volunteers and staff cleared debris, helped other organizations dis¬tribute tarpaulins, emergency generator sets and other materials.

Two weeks later, the affiliate began the long task of rebuilding. The focus was on building core houses that could be enlarged at a later date. In addition, through Re-Act (Reaching out Architect), a three-month apprentice program for ar¬chitectural or civil engineering students, Habitat was able to tap more than 40 local university students to assist Habitat field staff in consulting communities about rebuild¬ings.

Several months after the earthquake, HFH Yogyakarta also rebuilt 60 houses for peo¬ple injured by the earthquake. The affiliate completed the rebuilding program in mid-2007, exceeding its original target by helping more than 1,000 families rebuild their homes and lives. The higher figure was made possible largely through cost savings. The house costs were lower than estimated as bricks, wooden frames and roofing were salvaged and reused. Labor costs were kept low by gotong royong, or a strong grassroots spirit. Most of the labor for rebuilding came from the community itself.

JAMAICA
In January 2005, Habitat for Humanity Jamaica assisted victims of Hurricane Ivan. The project was completed by June 30, 2005, providing houses for more than 210 families in five communities.

NORTH CAROLINA, USA
By 2002, Habitat affiliates in the state of North Carolina were able to build 60 recovery homes under the Hurricane Floyd Recovery Build program. Families who lost their homes when Hurricane Floyd hit in 1999 were back on their feet with the help of volunteers and other partners.

SIERRA LEONE
Habitat for Humanity International provided assistance to 500 vulnerable families (representing approximately 3,500 individuals) in rebuilding permanent homes in 20 villages in Kailahun district. The majority of the population in this area fled during the war, becoming refugees and internally displaced persons.

TENNESSEE, USA
A tornado recovery program built homes for families affected by tornadoes that hit Jackson, Tenn., in May 2003. Through a series of partnerships, recovery homes were built as part of a broader alliance that would support up to 26 disaster-affected families in the area.