Project HOPE

An infographic has a headline: What is a Complex Crisis? And sub-head: A combination of multiple disasters both natural and man-made. They can include: Conflict and Violence, Severe Hunger, Violence Against Aid Workers, Widespread Loss of Health Care, Drought ot Natural Disaster, Spread of Disease, Displacement. The list are shown as labels pointing to an exclamation point on a globe.

The United Nations defines a complex crisis as “a humanitarian crisis in a country, region, or society where there is total or considerable breakdown of authority as a result of internal or external conflict and which requires an international humanitarian response.”

More simply put, a complex crisis is when multiple challenges stack on top of one another — for example, when a natural disaster like a hurricane or public health emergency like COVID layer on top of violence, civil war, or political strife. Conflict often results in large-scale displacement. In turn, displacement causes malnutrition or famine, severely limits access to health care, and makes delivery of humanitarian aid difficult and dangerous.

Learn more about how Project HOPE, with your support, saves lives in these complex situations in Ethiopia, Ukraine and Colombia…

Ethiopia
In the Horn of Africa, the challenges of the worst drought in four decades are compounded by conflict and COVID-19, leaving up to 25 million people at risk of food insecurity and more than a million children with severe acute malnutrition.

Project HOPE is providing health and nutrition aid to rural communities in Ethiopia that struggle to get the care they need. Our mobile health and nutrition teams are providing ready-to-use energy-dense food — as well as essential medicines, vaccines and medical supplies.

A photograph of two health workers wearing light blue face masks and Project HOPE vests clean up a clinic. They stand in front of a wall full of holes from violence in the region.

Ukraine
Scenes from central Europe have been heart-wrenching. Ukrainians are still trapped without water, food or power. Almost all Ukrainian refugees are women, children, and older people, so the risks of gender-based violence and abuse are multiplied.

Many older people remain in areas of intense fighting where they cannot get medical support for chronic health issues like hypertension. Having already delivered more than $4.7 million in pharmaceuticals to the region, we’re working with refugees and vulnerable people inside Ukraine to provide lifesaving medical care, protection and mental health support.

A photograph of young Ukranian refugee wearing a gray sweatshirt getting her breathing checked with a stethoscope by a health worker in a yellow shirt and vest.

Colombia
More than 6 million people have fled Venezuela — many in urgent need of health care. Years of economic and political turmoil have led to extreme shortages of medical workers and supplies and a severe rise in maternal mortality.

Project HOPE first started working in Colombia in 1995 and today is working on the border to help the Colombian health system receive and care for the migrants, specifically focusing on those preparing for delivery and in need of pre- and post-natal care.

A photograph in the shape of a circle shows four health workers in a Colombian hospital standing side-by-side. They are all wearing a white face mask, blue surgical gloves, coat and head covering as they stand in front of the entrance to a hospital room.

None of us can address all of the world’s ills, but with your help, Project HOPE provides health care aid and support when lives are under threat. We will remain committed to working side-by-side with health workers to heal their communities and strengthen health care across the world for the long run.

Rabih Torbay
President and CEO
Project HOPE

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