The European Union as a whole (i.e., the Member States and the Commission) is one of the world's main humanitarian aid donors; the Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO) is the service of the European Commission responsible for this activity. Thanks to ECHO, humanitarian action now occupies a key position in the European Union's external action. ECHO is the world's main player in this field. Through ECHO funding, some 18 million people are helped each year through 200 partners (NGOs, ICRC, and UN agencies like the UNHCR and the WFP).
MTI, U.S.A. (Medical Teams International)
MTI responds to some of the most devastating and difficult disaster scenes around the world. Within 48 hours, MTI sends volunteer medical professionals to natural and manmade disasters to care for the sick and injured.
MTI procures and distributes a large amount of Gift in Kind which is primarily medical supplies, medicines and medical equipment (more than $1 billion in medical supplies and aid has been shipped worldwide since 1986). MTI recruits and fields several hundred medical and dental professionals each year to its projects, field offices and partners.
Ora International is a non-denominational Christian relief and development organization that serves people in need around the world. ORA's work consists of three main areas: development work, emergency relief and sponsorship programmes.
The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is the relief and development arm of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It reaches out in God's name to people, who are struggling with poverty, hunger, disaster, and injustice to help them find lasting ways to improve their lives.
CRWRC works in 30 countries around the world. There, they partner with more than 130 churches and community organizations to help people work together to overcome illiteracy, hunger, malnutrition, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, child mortality, injustice, and other issues affecting them. When disasters strike, CRWRC responds to the urgent needs that arise, providing and distributing emergency food, water, shelter, and other supplies.
IAS is a Christian relief and development organisation with the mission 'to save lives, promote self-reliance and dignity and enable people to invest in their future, regardless of race, creed, gender or nationality of the recipient'. The association is non-profit making, non-political with the objective to start and/or support emergency relief and development projects in countries where needs exist. The association works under the principle 'Help people to help themselves'. Further, IAS encourages and strengthens local initiatives by local groups and organisations in countries where the association operates. IAS believes it is important for the targeted people to be involved in the assessment, planning and implementation process in an early stage.
