Disaster Relief

Building capacity of communities to prepare and respond to disasters

CARE India’s Disaster Management initiative works to provide rapid and effective relief measures to the regions impacted by natural calamities. Our strategy encompasses Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Rehabilitation with an approach of ‘Building Back Safer’. We use post disaster recovery programming to increase the resilience of buildings and communities to future hazards and raise awareness about disaster management.

As an NGO in disaster management, CARE India carries out an annual risk profiling and mapping of vulnerable locations in India to enhance its preparedness to respond during emergencies. Long-term engagement with the affected communities and efforts made to provide them immediate relief for recovery are the primary focus of our Disaster Management mandate. We also encourage donating to charity to help disaster relief organisations carry out their work.

Disaster Response/Relief

Recovery

Prevention/Mitigration

Preparedness

Major Achivements

840,846

people reached with emergency relief items, including 398,867 women and girls, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and response to floods in Maharashtra and Kerala.

39,026

PPE kits and 222,107 masks distributed to the healthcare functionaries in hospitals and frontline workers of the health and ICDS departments.

430,366

beneficiaries across 79,855 households provided with dry ration kits during the Covid-19 pandemic.

755,366

people including 362,292 women and girls reached with Covid response support across 12 States.

100,706

litres of hand sanitizers and 2000 litres of disinfectant was delivered to healthcare facilities at multiple locations.

Focus Areas

Key Programmes

Kerala Flood Response

Kerala Flood Response

Kerala Flood Response

Rapid aid to the destruction and loss caused by the flooding and landslides in Idukki and Wayanad.

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Kerala Flood Response

Maharashtra Flood Response

Maharashtra Flood Response

Addressing the immediate needs of worst affected households in marginalised and poor communities.

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Kerala Flood Response

Cyclone Yaas 2021

Cyclone Yaas 2021

Responding to the severely affected district of Balasore, Odisha, CARE India reached out to the most marginalised .

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Kerala Flood Response

Covid-19 Response

Covid-19 Response

Providing relief to frontline workers and marginalised communities that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic.

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Resources

Social Monitoring Committee in Humanitarian Response

CARE India’s learnings from the community relief assistance initiative…

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Disaster Resilent Shelter Repair/Construction

The good practices and lessons learned from the implementation of individual…

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Frequently Asked Questions



There are a number of reasons why disaster management is important:

  • Saving lives: During a disaster, the primary goal of disaster management is to save as many lives as possible. Emergency responders can respond to a disaster and evacuate people to safety more quickly and efficiently if proper disaster management plans are in place.
  • Reducing damage: Disaster management can help to mitigate the effects of a disaster. Responders can limit the destruction and loss of property by having plans in place to mitigate the impact of a disaster.
  • Economic stability: Natural disasters can have a significant economic impact. Businesses that have effective disaster management plans in place can resume operations quickly, reducing the economic impact of a disaster.
  • Environmental protection: Disasters can also have a significant environmental impact. Measures to protect the environment and prevent further damage can be included in disaster management plans.
  • Community resilience: Disaster management contributes to community resilience by encouraging preparedness and providing resources and assistance to those impacted by a disaster. Communities can come together and rebuild stronger than before by working together to respond to a disaster.



In disaster management, an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) is a private organisation that is not affiliated with the government and provides assistance during and after a disaster.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can play an important role in disaster management by providing immediate relief, assisting with long-term recovery, and promoting disaster risk reduction. NGOs can provide a wide range of disaster management services, including:

  • Emergency response: NGOs can provide immediate assistance to those affected by a disaster, such as shelter, food, water, and medical care.
  • Rehabilitation and reconstruction: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can assist in the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, as well as provide assistance to communities in rebuilding their homes and livelihoods.
  • Disaster risk reduction: Through awareness campaigns, training, and capacity building, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can work with communities to reduce their vulnerability to disasters.
  • Advocacy and policy influence: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can advocate for policies and legislation that promote disaster risk reduction while also addressing the needs of affected communities.

NGOs can provide disaster management services either independently or in collaboration with government agencies and other organisations. Their role in disaster management is critical, particularly when the government lacks the resources or capacity to provide adequate assistance.



India is prone to a wide range of natural disasters due to its diverse geography and climate. Some of the main causes of natural disasters in India include:

  • Cyclones: India’s coasts are vulnerable to cyclones, which are caused by low-pressure systems in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Floods are primarily caused by heavy monsoon rains, overflowing rivers, and cyclones in India.
  • Earthquakes: India is in a seismically active region, and earthquakes are caused by tectonic plate movement beneath the earth’s surface. Landslides are common in hilly and mountainous areas of India and are typically caused by heavy rainfall and soil erosion.
  • Drought: Droughts in India are caused by monsoon failure, which results in a lack of rainfall and a lack of water supply.
  • Forest fires are frequently caused by natural factors such as lightning strikes or by human activities such as agricultural waste burning.
  • Heat waves: High temperatures, low humidity, and hot winds cause heat waves in India, which can cause dehydration, heatstroke, and other health problems.

It is important to note that human factors such as deforestation, urbanisation, and poor land-use practises exacerbate many natural disasters in India.



There are several organisations that help with natural disasters in India, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and CARE India.

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