When Dudley and Lee-Ann Morgan moved to the Otago township of Lawrence in July, they thought they’d left the worst of life’s storms behind. But just a few months later, their new town was struck by a violent weather event that tore through the region leaving them clinging, quite literally, to their greenhouse.

This week marks both the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction and New Zealand’s national ShakeOut drill, led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and supported by New Zealand Red Cross.

Our Director of Domestic Operations, Jackie Bubb, reflects on why creating a culture of preparedness is key to building resilient communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Over recent months, relentless monsoon rains and glacial floods have devastated Pakistan, claiming almost 1000 lives and forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

A powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Afghanistan on 31 August, causing widespread destruction across Kunar, Nangarhar, and Laghman provinces.  

Since 1960, we’ve sent team members overseas on more than 1,000 assignments to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity on the front line.