HelpAge USA’s Post

In humanitarian aid, media attention and publicity selects the high-profile crisis areas where the resources are allocated to and where the help follows. Large organizations tend to focus on these areas due to their high visibility, while work in these zones is crucial, it leaves many suffering areas underserved. At Cypress, we take a different approach. Our mission is to help communities that are often left overlooked, prioritizing our mission over publicity. We venture into communities that rarely ever make the headlines, but desperately need any help they can get because aid is scarce. Whether it is a remote community recovering from horrific natural disaster damage or a town with limited recourse and funds, we strive to help where we can. Remembering that every community matters! This is what sets Cypress apart. We choose lesser-known areas because real change happens when we put our attention on the people rather than the publicity. Cypress works from the support of volunteers, where our success is measured by the number of lives we touched, uplifted and by the amount of smiles on faces. We love to ensure that no matter the person and no matter where they are located, they deserve the help they need and to never feel forgotten. At Cypress, we believe in doing the hard work that isn’t always seen. Cypress has and will continue to serve mission over publicity 💚

Dependency on Aid: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime." This well-known proverb highlights a critical issue in humanitarian aid: the potential for creating dependency rather than fostering self-sufficiency. When communities receive continuous external support without a focus on building local capacity, they can become reliant on aid for their basic needs, which undermines their ability to thrive independently. When aid is consistently provided without encouraging local solutions, communities may lose their sense of agency and empowerment. This can lead to a cycle where individuals wait for assistance instead of seeking ways to improve their situation. Dependency can stall progress by diverting attention from sustainable development initiatives. When resources are allocated to immediate relief efforts without investing in long-term solutions, communities may struggle to recover fully or build resilience against future crises. As communities rely on external support, transitioning from emergency relief to recovery can become challenging. When aid is withdrawn, communities may find themselves unprepared to manage on their own, leading to a setback in their development. #humanitarianaid #Empowerment #Sustainability #CommunityDevelopment #MentalHealth

Whether it’s a natural disaster, a conflict, or any other humanitarian emergency, it is the communities most affected that always respond first, and know what aid is required and how best to put it to use. International humanitarian aid is essential but takes time to reach the people most in need, it also tends to undermine or overlook the communities’ own efforts to help each other. Since 2021 Legatum has been funding organisations in five countries ((Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia and the Philippines) to provide micro-grants to local groups already taking effective action to help their communities recover from a major crisis. We have been so impressed by the impact of this work, not only in delivering aid quickly and effectively, but also giving local communities agency over the process and a sense of shared purpose as they confront major challenges. So much so that we have decided to scale up this work into a new collaborative fund – our fourth philanthropic fund. This will enable us to get capital into hyper local initiatives in many more communities and transform many more lives. https://lnkd.in/d5tRpiAu #UrgentResponse #HumanitarianAid #Philanthropy #CrisisRelief

"CDP's approach to addressing politically challenging and conflict-based contexts is centered on the four core humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence." Sharad Aggarwal, VP of Fund Management and Coalition Building wrote in PEAK Grantmaking Insights about how the Center for Disaster Philanthropy navigates the challenging world of funding in complex humanitarian emergencies. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/ezGg3MEM

On World Humanitarian Day, we express deep gratitude to humanitarian aid workers and volunteers. These dedicated individuals put themselves at risk to help those in need. Their courage and compassion bring hope to the most vulnerable, often in dangerous and desperate situations. Australians are at the forefront of humanitarian efforts. The Australian Red Cross is a volunteer involving organisation that exists to reduce human suffering. With over 20,000 members and volunteers they mobilise the power of humanity through connecting people in need of support to those with the means to support. Their impact in 2022-2023 included more than 324,000 people directly receiving support during and after disasters, 33 emergency activations across the country and over 4 million people accessing information from disaster preparedness campaigns. In a world that can feel overwhelming, we can still make a difference through volunteering. Your compassion has power. Because in the face of darkness, even the smallest light can guide the way. Let's #ActForHumanity

CARE and Save the Children US today announced a new partnership to bring more urgent relief, including cash assistance, to vulnerable families affected by disasters in the U.S. The new joint effort between these two leading global humanitarian organizations represents a shared commitment to supporting and empowering communities coping with the impact of climate disasters and other crises. The CARE/Save the Children partnership will advance their respective work, providing rapid response and critical humanitarian aid. It will do so by leveraging Save the Children’s existing community network across the U.S. – particularly in rural areas – to extend the reach of CARE’s domestic emergency relief and cash assistance program. Read more about the partnership here: https://ow.ly/qKv950SoCli

World Humanitarian Day is August 19. It’s a day to salute the courage and dedication of humanitarian aid workers everywhere. What you can do on World Humanitarian Day: · Express gratitude and appreciation for the work of humanitarian workers. · Raise awareness about the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable communities around the world. · Advocate for increased support for humanitarian organizations and initiatives. · Take action to support humanitarian efforts through volunteering, donations, or raising awareness. Humanitarian crises cannot be solved by one organization or one country. They require collective action from governments, businesses, and individuals. World Humanitarian Day promotes collective action and shows our commitment to helping those in need. We reaffirm our full support of humanitarian workers for their determined and life-saving efforts across the world and celebrate their unwavering dedication to serving ALL people in need: No matter who, no matter where; no matter what.

CARE and Save the Children US today announced a new partnership to bring more urgent relief, including cash assistance, to vulnerable families affected by disasters in the U.S. This announcement comes in advance of the start of what experts from the Colorado State University Tropical Meteorology Project have projected to be an “extremely active” 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, with well above-average activity expected. The season, running from June 1 to November 30, is anticipated to witness heightened hurricane activity, particularly from mid-August to mid-October, with a peak in mid-September.

Learning from field The community at risk of disasters receives humanitarian aid only after navigating a series of persistent obstacles, which have yet to be prioritized for removal. These barriers, often bureaucratic and logistical in nature, delay critical assistance and exacerbate the community's vulnerability. Addressing and removing these obstacles must become a priority to ensure timely and effective aid delivery, ultimately enhancing the resilience and safety of at-risk populations.

I want to establish an organization focused on humanitarian efforts, driven by a commitment to address the shortcomings of both local and international organizations. I've observed widespread issues such as aid diversion and mismanagement, where funds intended for communities often benefit only those within the organizations themselves. In Somalia, for instance, humanitarian resources are frequently controlled by those running these organizations, leaving vulnerable communities with limited access to essential support. It’s disheartening to see that much of the aid that is supposed to reach those in need ends up enriching individuals instead. I envision an organization called Lifecare Global, dedicated to genuinely supporting vulnerable communities. Our mission is to ensure that even the smallest resources—like a simple needle—are accessible to those who need them most. We aim to redefine humanitarian aid, prioritizing the needs of people over profits and ensuring transparency and accountability in our efforts. Lifecare Global will work to empower communities, focusing on their needs and fostering sustainable solutions that truly make a difference in their lives.