Emergency Relief

The national health system is under-resourced, and refugees struggle to access medical assistance due to financial, administrative, and linguistic obstacles. Many also suffer from trauma and psychological distress, exacerbated by the challenges of displacement. In response, UNHCR is providing essential healthcare and psycho-social support, ensuring access to primary and emergency medical care, mental health services, and referrals for specialized treatment. A key component of the intervention focuses on mental health and psychosocial support, offering counseling, trauma care, and awareness sessions, while also strengthening the capacity of healthcare personnel to better assist displaced communities. Through this initiative, thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers receive life-saving medical and psychological care, helping to ensure a more dignified and effective humanitarian response in a highly complex environment.

More than 7.9 million people have fled their homes, seeking safety either within Sudan or across the border in Chad, where over 540,000 refugees have arrived. The crisis has devastated the healthcare system, leaving millions without access to medical care, food, clean water, and basic sanitation. In Khartoum and Darfur, many hospitals have been damaged or looted, while in overcrowded refugee settlements in Chad, medical facilities are severely overstretched, and disease outbreaks pose a growing threat. In response, MSF, with the support of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, is providing lifesaving medical care, maternal and child health services, trauma treatment, and malnutrition support to affected populations in Sudan and Chad. In Khartoum and Darfur, MSF is working to restore essential healthcare services by supporting hospitals with medical supplies, financial assistance for health workers, and infrastructure repairs. Special attention is given to emergency care, maternal and child health, malnutrition treatment, and mental health support for survivors of violence. In eastern Chad, where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees have sought shelter, MSF providing primary and emergency medical care, reproductive health services, and vaccination programs. Given the severe lack of water and sanitation, MSF is also constructing boreholes and latrines to improve living conditions and reduce the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases. By strengthening healthcare infrastructure and delivering targeted medical aid, this initiative ensures that conflictaffected communities and displaced refugees receive the urgent care they need in an increasingly dire humanitarian landscape.

Hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and droughts displace thousands of animals each year, overwhelming shelters and leaving them without food, water, or medical care. Climate change alone is projected to displace millions of people and their animals by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated emergency responses. In alignment with the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation’s commitment to animal welfare and biodiversity, this initiative supports Humane Society International’s Animal Rescue Team in providing life-saving assistance to animals in crisis. Through emergency relief efforts across multiple regions—including Mexico, Nepal, Vietnam, India, Romania, Poland, and Ecuador—HSI works to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for animals affected by natural disasters, mitigating both immediate suffering and long-term ecological damage. HSI provides urgent aid to animals caught in disaster zones, ensuring access to food, shelter, and veterinary care. The response includes delivering large-scale food supplies, distributing essential medical and shelter equipment, and offering financial and logistical support to local partners. Additionally, HSI conducts animal rescues, relocates vulnerable animals to safer areas, and works with communities to enhance disaster preparedness. Recent interventions include hurricane relief in Mexico, emergency rescues following monsoon floods in Nepal and India, typhoon response in Vietnam, and flood relief efforts in Romania and Poland. In Ecuador, where severe drought threatens livestock and wildlife, HSI is supporting indigenous communities with emergency food and veterinary care. By strengthening local capacity and ensuring rapid, effective responses, this initiative helps safeguard thousands of anima.

Refugees live in makeshift bamboo and tarpaulin structures, vulnerable to monsoon floods, landslides, and fires. Climate change has further exacerbated these threats, leaving thousands displaced each year. To enhance safety and resilience, UNHCR is improving shelters in 16 camps under its management. This includes reinforcing structures against monsoon damage and distributing essential materials to strengthen homes. Given policy constraints on shelter upgrades, efforts focus on practical, temporary reinforcements to mitigate disaster risks and improve living conditions. This initiative helps safeguard thousands of displaced families, ensuring greater stability and protection in an increasingly fragile environment.

Caritas España rapidly mobilized to provide emergency relief, focusing on the hardest-hit areas, including Valencia, Albacete, Cuenca, and Letur. Volunteers, many of whom were themselves affected, played a crucial role in supporting families in distress. The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation – Delegació a Catalunya, responded within 48 hours, ensuring one of the fastest emergency grants ever disbursed. Through Caritas Austria, funds were quickly transferred to Caritas España, allowing for immediate action. Efforts were concentrated on clearing debris, restoring access to homes, and providing essential supplies. In Cuenca, where the town of Mira was among the worst affected, teams worked tirelessly to clean streets and buildings. Food distribution was organized for displaced families and response teams, while psychosocial support services were set up to assist those coping with trauma. In Valencia, an Emergency Committee was established to assess urgent needs and plan for long-term recovery. This rapid intervention underscores the Foundation’s commitment to swift and effective humanitarian response, reinforcing its long-standing support for Spain’s communities.

Read more on Valencia Floods and the NaEPF’s Commitment in Spain

The disaster also had a profound impact on animals, particularly horses and livestock. Many equestrian centers, farms, and shelters were submerged, leaving animals stranded, injured, or dead. Horses, often kept in paddocks and stables with limited escape routes, were among the most vulnerable, suffering from drowning, injuries, and the collapse of their enclosures. In response, ACEEGi launched an emergency relief effort to support equestrian centers that suffered significant losses. Stables such as Club Hípico El Racó in Manises, Hípica Sebastián Ponce in Aldaia, Centro Ecuestre Cata Roja, and Hípica The Black Steed in Chiva—located in the hardest-hit areas—lost essential infrastructure, feed supplies, and tragically, many horses. ACEEGi is working closely with affected stable owners to provide immediate aid, focusing on the urgent delivery of food, bedding, and supplies. The priority is to send truckloads of fodder, including oats, hay, and straw, to ensure the survival and recovery of the remaining animals. With the support of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation – Delegació a Catalunya, ACEEGi aims to provide rapid relief, mitigating further suffering and helping equestrian centers rebuild after this unprecedented disaster.

Read more on Valencia Floods and the NaEPF’s Commitment in Spain

The Princess of Girona Foundation, committed to empowering new generations, launched a dedicated initiative to support the recovery and future resilience of youth in the most affected areas. This comprehensive intervention plan is structured around four key areas. First, it supports educational continuity by deploying a network of young volunteer teachers to reinforce competence development and emotional well-being in schools, reaching hundreds of students. Second, it fosters youth entrepreneurship, encouraging young people to design and implement initiatives that contribute to local recovery and resilience. Third, it provides individualized psychosocial support, offering group and personal mentoring to 500 young people to help them navigate trauma and regain stability. Lastly, it amplifies youth voices, creating spaces for artistic expression and cultural engagement while promoting a positive outlook on the region’s future. With a 12-month implementation plan, rigorous governance, and structured financial oversight, this initiative ensures long-term impact by strengthening the educational system, supporting economic recovery, and providing essential social and psychological assistance. Through this intervention, the Princess of Girona Foundation, with the support of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation – Delegació a Catalunya, affirms its commitment to Valencia’s youth, turning crisis into an opportunity for growth and renewal.

Read more on Valencia Floods and the NaEPF’s Commitment in Spain

Among the hardest-hit were children and adolescents, whose education was disrupted, and whose families faced enormous challenges in rebuilding their lives. The psychological impact of such a disaster further compounded the difficulties faced by young people, highlighting the need for both educational continuity and psychosocial support. In response, Plan International España launched an emergency initiative to restore access to education and provide emotional support to children and families affected by the floods. Central to this intervention is the creation of Safe Spaces— secure environments where children can continue learning, play, and receive psychosocial support. These spaces will be equipped with educational materials, art supplies, and sports equipment, while trained educators and psychologists will help children cope with trauma and regain a sense of stability. To bridge the gap created by damaged school infrastructure, the project will also distribute tablets, PCs, and digital blackboards to ensure students can continue their education through digital learning. Teachers and students will receive training to maximize the use of these resources, reducing educational disruption. Additionally, recreational and creative activities such as music, arts, and games will be integrated into the program to promote emotional well-being and resilience. Prioritizing the municipalities of Massanassa and Catarroja, the initiative will run until June 2025, with the potential to extend support through summer programs. With backing from the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation – Delegació a Catalunya, this project aims to safeguard children’s right to education while fostering recovery and resilience in the wake of disaster.

Read more on Valencia Floods and the NaEPF’s Commitment in Spain

The earthquake also had a severe impact on animals, with many injured, abandoned, or trapped. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation supported three targeted initiatives, providing emergency relief, shelter, and veterinary care, ensuring life-saving aid for both people and animals in one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. In response to the devastating earthquake in Turkey, Needs Map utilized its map-based technology and field operations to coordinate emergency aid efficiently. Working with local partners, the initiative provided essential relief materials—including thermal tents, hygiene kits, blankets, and food supplies—to affected communities. Through a real-time digital mapping system, the project also tracked collapsed buildings, facilitated housing for displaced families, and ensured aid reached verified survivors. Nearly 500 volunteers managed logistics across multiple warehouse hubs, making this a highly coordinated and impactful relief effort.

The earthquake also had a severe impact on animals, with many injured, abandoned, or trapped. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation supported three targeted initiatives, providing emergency relief, shelter, and veterinary care, ensuring life-saving aid for both people and animals in one of the worst natural disasters in recent history. The earthquake severely impacted both humans and countless animals left injured or trapped in collapsed buildings. Humane Society International (HSI) deployed emergency response teams to rescue, treat, and shelter animals in distress. Working alongside local veterinarians and NGOs, HSI established veterinary clinics and triage centers, treating over 1,500 animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and farm animals suffering from injuries, dehydration, and malnutrition. Additionally, HSI provided pet care supplies, veterinary equipment, and financial support to exhausted local vet teams, ensuring long-term care for rescued animals.

In Syria, the disaster compounded an already dire postconflict humanitarian crisis, leaving millions without shelter or basic necessities. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation supported three targeted initiatives, providing emergency relief and shelter. Following the earthquake, UNHCR and its partners provided emergency shelter and life-saving supplies to thousands of displaced families across Aleppo, Latakia, Homs, and Hama. The intervention established over 300 collective shelters, later transitioning families to temporary housing. The Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation’s support enabled the provision of first aid kits, blankets, solar lamps, and kitchen sets to approximately 1,800 affected individuals. UNHCR continues to assist 74,000 people in newly established displacement sites, ensuring a safe and dignified recovery process.

As winter approached, the situation worsened for affected communities, particularly in remote rural areas, where access to aid was severely limited. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation funded two targeted humanitarian initiatives, focusing on mental health support, emergency relief, and winterization aid, ensuring that survivors received critical assistance to rebuild their lives. To address the severe psychological impact of the disaster, MSF teams—in collaboration with the Moroccan Ministry of Health— deployed mobile psychological support units to assist affected communities. Teams composed of psychologists and health promoters provided psychological first aid, individual counseling for trauma survivors, and psychoeducation sessions to help people cope with distress. The intervention also ensured that those with severe psychological symptoms were directed to specialized national mental health services for continued care.

As winter approached, the situation worsened for affected communities, particularly in remote rural areas, where access to aid was severely limited. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation funded two targeted humanitarian initiatives, focusing on mental health support, emergency relief, and winterization aid, ensuring that survivors received critical assistance to rebuild their lives. With many families left homeless, Caritas Rabat focused on winterization and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) assistance in the earthquake-affected villages of Asni and Moulay Ibrahim, serving a population of approximately 10,000 people. The intervention prioritized 50 of the most vulnerable households—including families with children, single women, the elderly, and those with health conditions—providing warm clothing, blankets, and essential hygiene supplies to help them withstand harsh winter conditions.

Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face extreme hardship. The large-scale displacement caused by the Ukraine crisis has left millions in urgent need of shelter, protection, and basic necessities. Through this initiative, NaEPF supported UNHCR’s emergency response, ensuring that displaced individuals and families received temporary housing, cash assistance, medical care, and psychological support, helping them regain stability in the face of uncertainty.

Read the press release by the Board of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation

Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face extreme hardship, while animals have also been severely affected. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation has funded four targeted initiatives providing emergency relief, shelter, medical aid, and animal protection, ensuring critical assistance to those most impacted by the crisis. With essential services under strain, many Ukrainian families have struggled to access food, clean water, medical care, and emergency supplies. This project, in collaboration with Swiss Solidarity, provided critical humanitarian aid, including food distribution, hygiene kits, and medical support, to ensure that those affected by the crisis received the urgent relief they needed.

Read the press release by the Board of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation

Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face extreme hardship, while animals have also been severely affected. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation has funded four targeted initiatives providing emergency relief, shelter, medical aid, and animal protection, ensuring critical assistance to those most impacted by the crisis. As families fled their homes, many pets and farm animals were left behind or faced severe hardship due to food shortages and lack of medical care. NaEPF’s supported to Humane Society International helps deliver emergency veterinary care, food supplies, and shelter assistance for animals affected by the conflict, ensuring their well-being and survival.

Read the press release by the Board of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation

Vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, face extreme hardship, while animals have also been severely affected. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation has funded four targeted initiatives providing emergency relief, shelter, medical aid, and animal protection, ensuring critical assistance to those most impacted by the crisis. The crisis has also placed thousands of horses at risk, as farms and equestrian centres struggle to provide for them amid economic hardship and displacement. This initiative, in partnership with World Horse Welfare, provided essential feed, medical care, and shelter assistance for horses affected by the conflict, helping safeguard their welfare in this challenging time.

Read the press release by the Board of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation

Within weeks, hospitals were collapsing under the strain, entire nations went into lockdown, and economies faltered. The pandemic exposed the vulnerability of healthcare systems, deepened social inequalities, and left the most fragile communities without access to basic needs. Italy became one of the first epicentres of devastation, with overflowing intensive care units and a rising death toll that sent shockwaves across the globe. But the crisis extended far beyond: in refugee camps, informal settlements, and economically fragile countries, COVID-19 was not just a health emergency—it was a humanitarian disaster, exacerbating hunger, displacement, and economic hardship. At the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, the response was immediate and far-reaching. As early as March 2020, the Foundation began receiving urgent requests for support. Recognizing the scale of the catastrophe, the Foundation mobilized resources to fund 35 emergency projects, supporting hospitals, frontline healthcare workers, vulnerable families, refugees, and marginalized communities across Italy and the world. This was not just about responding to a virus—it was about ensuring dignity, survival, and resilience in the face of an unprecedented global emergency.

Read more on NaEPF’s response to COVID-19 Crisis

At a time when donor fatigue and political instability hindered international support, the Foundation recognised the urgency of the crisis and mobilised resources to deliver critical aid to the most vulnerable populations. Through eight trusted humanitarian partners, the intervention targeted four key emergency sectors: emergency food distribution for thousands of people facing starvation; mobile clinics and emergency healthcare, particularly for displaced populations; protection, support for refugees and internally displaced persons, with a focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, and people with disabilities; education, ensuring access to schooling for over 55,000 children, despite the ongoing crisis. This was the largest single humanitarian investment in the history of the Foundation, reflecting its commitment to alleviating suffering in one of the world’s most severe and underreported humanitarian emergencies. Despite the volatile security situation and logistical challenges, the intervention was widely recognised as highly relevant and impactful, addressing critical gaps in the international humanitarian response. The 2017 South Sudan Emergency Response stands as a testament to the Foundation’s unwavering dedication to humanitarian aid, reinforcing its mission to provide timely, strategic, and impactful assistance in the world’s most urgent crises. The lessons learned from this experience continue to shape the Foundation’s approach, ensuring that future interventions maximize effectiveness, adaptability, and long-term resilience.

Read the press release by the Board of the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation

By 2016, more than half of Syria’s population had fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries such as Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, while thousands risked dangerous journeys to Europe. Women and children were disproportionately affected, facing trauma, violence, and extreme hardship, often arriving in host countries with urgent medical needs and little access to shelter, food, or basic services. In response, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation partnered with UNHCR and Rainbow for Africa to fund four major humanitarian initiatives between 2013 and 2016, focusing on emergency relief, medical aid, winter assistance, and education. These projects supported over 1.4 million refugees across the Middle East, Greece, and Europe, providing shelter, health services, protection for vulnerable groups, and educational opportunities. Through these coordinated efforts, the Foundation contributed to saving lives, fostering resilience, and promoting dignity for displaced Syrians, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable humanitarian action in times of crisis.

Emergency project: Providing protection and assistance to the uprooted Syrians who have been forced to flee their homes and country in search of safety in the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.
Grantee: UNHCR

Emergency action: Providing urgent humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Greece.
Grantee: UNHCR

Emergency Medical Assistance to Refugees and Migrants to Lesbo, Greece.
Grantee: Rainbow for Africa Skills training and recreational activities for Syrian refugees in Za’atari, Cyber City, King Abdullah Park camps in Jordan.
Grantee: UNHCR

To support their reintegration, UNHCR launched a transitional housing programme prioritizing the most vulnerable, such as female-headed households, unaccompanied children, and the elderly. Rather than focusing on transit sites, shelter assistance was provided at final destinations to ensure lasting impact. The initiative combined the distribution of building materials with vocational training in construction techniques, encouraging local participation. Environmentally sustainable methods, such as “green blocks” and stabilized soil blocks, were incorporated to reduce environmental impact. By linking shelter support with livelihood development and infrastructure improvements, the programme not only provided secure housing but also strengthened community resilience, fostering peaceful coexistence between returnees and host communities.

The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis, generating 30-foot waves that swept through rice fields, obliterated towns, and left widespread destruction in their wake. Vehicles and boats were tossed aside as entire communities were submerged. In response to this unprecedented disaster, the international community mobilised to provide urgent aid. Among them, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation took swift action to support the emergency response. Partnering with UNHCR, the Foundation facilitated the provision of 1,794 solar lamps, which were delivered to the Japanese government and distributed within 48 hours to those in urgent need. Furthering its commitment to humanitarian relief, the Foundation also collaborated with Malteser International to provide essential psychosocial support for children in Ichinoseki, a small city severely affected by the tsunami. This initiative aimed to help young survivors cope with the emotional and psychological impact of the disaster.

Carrying 77,000 tons of heavy crude oil, the single-hull vessel was denied entry to nearby ports and drifted for six days before splitting in two and sinking approximately 150 miles offshore on 19 November. The spill resulted in one of Europe’s worst environmental disasters, contaminating over 1,000 miles of coastline across Spain, Portugal, and France.

The thick, toxic oil devastated marine ecosystems, fisheries, and local economies, particularly in Galicia, where thousands of volunteers participated in cleanup efforts. The disaster highlighted the dangers of aging oil tankers and led to significant regulatory changes in maritime safety, including stricter EU policies on single- hull vessels.

In response to the Prestige oil spill, the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation supported from 2004 to 2006 a pioneering research project led by Fundación Arao, in collaboration with four universities. The project aimed to develop advanced methodologies for real-time detection and analysis of hydrocarbon pollution in marine environments. Key achievements included the creation of a radar- based detection system capable of identifying oil slicks and determining their depth, as well as a fluorescence-based detection method using laser technology to analyse the chemical composition of hydrocarbons. The project successfully integrated artificial intelligence to automate detection processes, improving accuracy even in challenging environmental conditions. The initiative not only advanced scientific knowledge but also provided practical tools for environmental monitoring, contributing to more effective oil spill response strategies. The results hold strong potential for application in marine conservation and disaster mitigation worldwide.