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Malee’s Story

Children like Malee need you this Christmas season, will you be the one to change their lives?

Malee’s Story

Children like Malee need you this Christmas season, will you be the one to change their lives?

A Closer Walk takes you to the humanitarian frontlines and deep into the communities where poverty and crisis are devastating lives. In this episode, you’ll meet refugees from South Sudan in Uganda and the ADRA staff working to serve them in dire circumstances. Watch the rest of the series online here.

ADRA Connections Offers Service Scholarships to Young Adults to Volunteer Overseas

SILVER SPRING, MD (November 12, 2018)– The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)’s global volunteer program ADRA Connections is launching a new service scholarship that will allow thousands of young people in the U.S. to be more active through volunteerism and become agents of change to contribute to the development of communities abroad. “We want to […]

Double Amputee Woman to Complete Upcoming New York City Full Marathon

Washington, DC (October 18, 2018) — Brazilian athlete Adriele Silva, 31, looks forward to crossing the finish line at mile 26.2 of the 2018 TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 4. The New York Road Runners, who has organized the race since 1970, believes she will be the first female double amputee to complete […]

ADRA JOINS FAITH GROUPS TO DISCUSS CHILDREN ON THE MOVE

FAITH GROUPS GATHER TO DISCUSS CHILDREN ON THE MOVE October 15, 2018 – This week a diverse group of organizations will come together for a forum at the Jesuit Curia in Rome where they will discuss how faith leaders can work together to end violence against children on the move. According to UNICEF, more than […]

Marie-Julina’s Story

Every dollar you donate right now will be multiplied 3 times – click NOW to give.

Marie-Julina’s Story

Every dollar you donate right now will be multiplied 3 times – click NOW to give.

ADRA Receives Air Support to Help with Ongoing Relief Aid in Indonesia

SILVER SPRING, MD, (OCTOBER 4, 2018) – As response efforts continue for thousands of affected people hardest hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake followed by an 18-foot tsunami, which struck the town of Palu and nearby areas in central Sulawesi in Indonesia, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has received air support thanks to […]

Statement Regarding Yemen

Silver Spring, Maryland – October 3, 2018 The following statement is to clarify an Associated Press story (“UN suspends crucial cash aid to 9 million Yemenis”) published on Tuesday, October 3, 2018 regarding ADRA’s country director in Yemen and ADRA’s work in the country. “This is a very disturbing situation, but we stand on these […]

EMERGENCY: Indonesia Earthquake & Tsunami

ADRA is responding in Indonesia following an earthquake and tsunami that took the life of thousands. An estimated 1.5 million people have now been affected by a powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake and the devastating tsunami that followed it. More than 1,500 deaths have already been reported and another 2,500 people have reported major injuries. Close […]

ADRA Ready to Respond to Major Storms Affecting US, Philippines, and Eastern Caribbean

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding to three powerful cyclonic storms that are blasting the US east coast, northern Philippines, and the Lower Antilles in the Caribbean with strong winds and heavy rains, affecting millions and forcing many to evacuate. “Our emergency team has been tracking these storms closely for several days, […]

ADRA Deploys Relief Efforts After Super Typhoon Strikes the Philippines

SILVER SPRING, MD (September 15, 2018) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) office in the Philippines has deployed an emergency response team to assess the situation and provide aid to some of the communities most affected by Super Typhoon Mangkhut, known locally as Ompong. The powerful typhoon, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, […]

ADRA Ready to Respond to Multiple Storms

The Atlantic and the Pacific Rocked by Tropical Storms Florence, Isaac, Helene, and Mangkhut Set to Cause Potential Devastation SILVER SPRING, MD, September 14, 2018 – Since Tuesday, September 11, the world has been closely watching as powerful storms are set to pass through several countries, including the Carolinas in the U.S., the Lesser Antilles […]

EMERGENCY: Hurricane Florence & Typhoon Mangkhut

ADRA is responding to Typhoon Mangkhut in the Philippines and is working in partnership with Adventist Community Services (ACS) in response to Hurricane Florence. ADRA in the Philippines has already begun distributing shelter kits and emergency food with plans to expand the distributions as ADRA’s emergency response team continues to assess the situation. Hurricane Florence […]

EMERGENCY: Earthquake in Indonesia

ADRA Indonesia is conducting assessments and is ready to respond after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck Indonesia and killed close to 100 people. Around 447,000 people have been affected with thousands displaced from their homes and thousands more injured. The most urgent needs include clean water, emergency food, shelter materials, and urgent care. To assist […]

Student Volunteers on ADRA Connections Extreme Help Build a School in the Amazon

SILVER SPRING, MD – More than 220 university students across North and South America took a break during the summer, and traveled miles from home to ensure that underprivileged children earn a higher education. For two weeks, students participated in the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) new volunteer program called, “ADRA Connections,” to assist in […]

REFUGEE VIDEOS

The ADRA network works with refugees and other displaced people around the world, in some of the harshest conditions. These videos show some of that work. Take a walk in Yeasin’s footsteps. She and what’s left of her family are Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. See what life is like in a refugee camp. The […]

ADRA PARTNERS WITH WORLD FOOD PROGRAM TO HELP FEED 85,000 REFUGEES IN UGANDA

Photo caption: ADRA Uganda staff visit and observe one of the WFP food distribution points at Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement. ADRA PARTNERS WITH WORLD FOOD PROGRAM TO HELP FEED 85,000 REFUGEES IN UGANDA SILVER SPRING, MD – Thousands of refugees in Uganda will receive food assistance, thanks to a recent cooperation established between the Adventist Development […]

Strengthen Their Defense

Many children around the world are not protected against preventable diseases such as measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). As a result, many die or suffer unnecessarily. Today, you can change that! Your gift can keep children safe by giving them the vaccines they need to fight these diseases. When we work together […]

ADRA OFFICIALLY OPENS FIRST WATER KIOSK IN MOZAMBIQUE

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) officially launched on June 12 its first safe water kiosk in Mocuba, Mozambique, which will provide 20 liters a day of safe water for more than 1,000 people. Mocuba, a district of the Zambezia province in Mozambique, has suffered from inadequate safe water supply […]

WHERE YOU ARE REACHING REFUGEES

Forced displacement is at record levels – an astonishing 68.5 million were recorded as displaced in 2017. To put that in perspective, one person is forced from their home, their community, and the life that they know every 2 seconds! Your support is part of reaching these refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and others who […]

ADRA Responding Following Guatemala Volcano

ADRA is responding after the fatal eruption of the Fuego volcano in Guatemala. ADRA Guatemala and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Guatemala are distributing food baskets, hygiene kits, and clean water to thousands who have been displaced from their homes by the disaster. Click to give in support of people affected by this disaster and others […]

Pray for Refugees

During the week leading up to World Refugee Sabbath on June 16, join people around the world as we put the power of prayer to work for refugees! If you aren’t already on ADRA’s mailing list, sign up for our Pray for Refugees emails here: Pray for Refugees.

ADRA Mourns Loss of Staff Killed in South Sudan

Silver Spring, Maryland—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is mourning the death of one of its employees killed on Tuesday, April 24, in Tali County, South Sudan. Mr. Agoyo Robert was working for ADRA South Sudan’s Health Pooled Fund (HPF) project, an initiative aimed at extending health services to thousands of people in the […]

ADRA GRANTED EMERGENCY AWARD TO SUPPORT VENEZUELAN MIGRANTS

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the humanitarian agency for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, was recently awarded $500,000 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA). This grant funding to ADRA will help provide additional emergency relief aid to Venezuelan migrants in Brazil. “ADRA is grateful for […]

ADRA Responding in Puerto Rico

ADRA is providing disaster response in Puerto Rico following the devastation left by Hurricane Maria. ADRA Puerto Rico was in action immediately after Hurricane Irma, and then again after Maria. Together with the local Seventh-day Adventist Church community, they have been helping to clear debris from roads and property, as well as providing as much […]

Samira’s Story

Samira and her grandson recently arrived in Bangladesh from the Rakhine state in Myanmar. Her four daughters were killed by militants with machetes, leaving her to flee with the young baby to save both of their lives. They are two of the more than 436,000 Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh in just over a month. More […]

ADRA Distributing Food on Tortola after Hurricanes

Thanks to your generosity, ADRA distributed food to hundreds of people on the island of Tortola following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. With YOUR financial help and the support of church volunteers, ADRA has completed the first distribution of food parcels to over 500 families on the Island of Tortola. Because of your generous gift, ADRA […]

No Turning Back: Janet’s Story

Nineteen-year-old Janet is the third of nine children born to peasant farmers in Kenya. Since she was seven years old, Janet dreamed of going to school so she could become a productive member of her community. She asked her parents to let her enroll, even though none of her other siblings attended school. However, when […]

ADRA Responding in Puerto Rico and other Major Disaster Locations

ADRA’s emergency response team is currently responding to multiple major emergencies around the world, including Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, back to back earthquakes in Mexico, devastating floods in Nepal, and the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh. The following links will take you the latest information on each crisis. These […]

ADRA Responding to Rohingya Crisis

ADRA is providing urgent emergency relief in response to the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh, where at least 422,000 people have arrived in the last month after fleeing violence in Myanmar. ADRA’s emergency response team is coordinating the delivery of emergency food, shelter kits, and hygiene resources to Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong camp. This camp is […]

12 Months, 4 Countries, 2 People: 1 Life-changing Experience (Part 2)

In 2016 Jonathan and Magali, a young couple from Belgium, embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a trip around the world volunteering with ADRA projects from Mongolia to Vanuatu. You can read the first part of Jonathan and Magali’s adventure here. Ecuador Ecuador, our third stop, was completely different from anywhere we’d been previously. We […]

12 Months, 4 Countries, 2 People: 1 Life-changing Experience (Part 1)

In 2016 Jonathan and Magali, a young couple from Belgium, embarked on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure: a trip around the world volunteering with ADRA projects from Mongolia to Vanuatu. Jonathan tells their story. The idea for this trip had been on our minds for a long time. We both love traveling and discovering new cultures and […]

EMERGENCY: Second Earthquake Devastates Mexico

ADRA Mexico began early damage assessments in the hours following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico on September 19. This is the second massive earthquake to hit the country in less than 2 weeks. This second earthquake was centered on the states of Morelos and Puebla, and caused massive damage in Mexico City, the […]

Hurricanes Irma and Maria Cause Widespread Devastation

ADRA’s response team is on the ground in the Caribbean and surrounding areas in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria. St. Martin/St. Maarten, Anguilla, and Tortola Food, shelter, and water are urgent needs in the islands of St. Martin/Maarten and Anguilla in the Caribbean, as well as Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. ADRA has […]

ADRA Responds to Hurricane Irma Devastation in the Caribbean

ADRA is providing disaster response across several islands heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma. Food, clean water, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, and other vital emergency resources are being supplied to thousands of people affected by the Category 5 storm. Disaster preparation is also underway as Hurricane Jose approaches the region. SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND (September 15, 2017) […]

8.2 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mexico

ADRA Mexico will be focusing on shelter and food as the response gets underway following the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that hit the Southern coast of Mexico on September 7. Close to 2 million people have been affected by the massive quake, with the death toll already nearing 100. Strong, ongoing aftershocks are adding to the damage […]

DISASTER UPDATE: Hurricane Irma Emergency Response Underway

ADRA’s emergency response to Hurricane Irma has begun across the Caribbean and other affected regions. Hurricane Irma has left massive destruction in its path, and ADRA is actively responding. The response is growing every day as emergency response staff gain access to areas hit by the Category 5 storm and more destruction is uncovered. The urgency is also […]

Harvey Response Continues as Hurricane Irma’s Path Continues

ADRA is preparing for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Irma across several countries even as the disaster response following Hurricane Harvey continues with partners Adventist Community Services (ACS). ADRA is responding to Hurricane Harvey in partnership with ACS who are leading the emergency response. ACS is actively responding through their southwestern United States regional office, […]

ADRA Responds to Flooding and Landslides in Nepal

The ADRA network is activating an emergency response in the wake of flooding and landslides in Nepal. In response to this widespread destruction, ADRA Nepal has distributed emergency food, shelter resources, and hygiene and femal dignity kits, household items, and bedding to thousands of those affected. ADRA has also been running health camps and providing […]

Selling Stories

Did you know that right now there are more than 21 million people who are victims of forced labor, including sexual exploitation? One way that the ADRA network is fighting these crimes is with our Keep Girls Safe shelter in Thailand. Watch this episode of ADRA’s docu-series, A Closer Walk, to learn more about human […]

ADRA Announces Partnership with Grundfos to Bring Safe, Sustainable Water Access to 1.5 Million People

ADRA and Grundfos Partner to Bring Safe, Sustainable Water Access to 1.5 Million People Partnership to deliver safe water to 1.5 million people in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and the South Pacific, over the next five years Innovative water supply technology will improve access to water and hygiene resources in underserved peri-urban communities […]

ADRA’s 2017 World Refugee Day Statement

For decades, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), which serves as the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has championed the rights and wellbeing of people displaced by conflict and persecution—men, women and children of all different faiths, ethnicities and nationalities who have survived unspeakable hardship, terror and loss. In 2016 alone, more […]

It’s All About Giving Opportunities

Felipe* had dreams and plans for his life like anyone in his native Colombia. He dreamed of being a doctor and deepening his knowledge in this field. These dreams were abruptly ended when an armed group entered his community demanding support from everyone for their presence in the territory. He knew that if he did […]

EMERGENCY: Floods in Sri Lanka

ADRA is responding to massive flooding in Sri Lanka that has left 193 dead, 94 missing, and around 100,000 displaced from their homes. The flooding follows Cyclone Mora, which has now also hit the countries of Bangladesh and India. In Sri Lanka, ADRA is working with partners to distribute emergency food rations, which includes flour, rice, […]

World Refugee Sabbath

Refugee Sabbath was June 16 and World Refugee Day is June 20, and we are making it as easy as possible for you or your church to get involved get involved. Here’s how! EVENTS June 16 – ADRA in Europe hosted a special World Refugee Sabbath service in Serbia on June 16 – if you […]

Philip’s New Home

Meet Philip (in the red hat) and his siblings. They are from South Sudan, but violence forced them to flee to Uganda. In this video, they take us on a tour of the space they now call home. Violence erupted in Philip’s community in December, forcing him and his brothers and sisters from their home. […]

Five Ways You Can Join Us in Helping Refugees

Host a Refugee Sabbath at your church. June 17, 2017 is World Refugee Sabbath, but you can host one any time. Here are some materials to get you started. You can also find daily prayers at www.prayforrefugees.com June 14-20. The prayers will remain on the site after June 20, forming a 7-day prayer guide you […]

Child Survival: Christian’s Story

We met baby Christian in Indonesia, where he was severely malnourished and struggling to survive. Matt, one of our staff members, shared his travel journal from the visit. It was my last day on Sangihe Island, Indonesia, and I was only a few hours away from departing for the mainland when I received a call […]

Twili’s Story

East Africa is in the middle of a food crisis so massive that 20 million lives are at immediate risk. Twili is one of those. We met Twili and her children in the village where they live in Kenya, where she shared her story: “I was married; my husband was sick and passed away in 2006. He […]

Philippines in Photos: Three Years after Typhoon Haiyan

Three years ago, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines. Over 1 million homes were damaged or destroyed, and more than 6,000 people lost their lives. With an established presence in the Philippines, ADRA was able to launch an immediate disaster response (in fact, some local ADRA staff suffered personal losses in the storm, but still reported […]

Hunted to Hopeful: Mary’s Story

Mary Meschu is just one of the 170,000 Tanzanian albinos living under the weight of superstition. Her pale skin stands in stark contrast to those around her, causing many to believe she, and others like her, are ghosts, a cursed type of people. They call them “zeru zeru”, which literally means double zero. Less than […]

EMERGENCY: Millions Starving in World’s Largest Food Crisis

Your urgent help is needed now! 20 million people in East Africa are starving in the largest food emergency in the world. Famine has already set in within South Sudan, and families in Somalia, Yemen, Nigeria, and Kenya are struggling to find food every day. This level of hunger in so many countries is unprecedented. […]

Heavy Snowfall in Pakistan Causing Hunger

ADRA is supporting 150 families with food, nutrition, and hygiene kits after snowfall blocks communities in Pakistan from food. Heavy snowfalls have blocked roads in Swat Valley in the province of Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, which is causing shortages of food for around 5oo families. ADRA Pakistan is partnering with Caritas who are active in the area […]

Shelter, Vouchers, and Weet-Bix in Fiji as Winston Recovery Continues

The recovery from last year’s Tropical Cyclone Winston is continuing in Fiji as ADRA supplies shelter kits, food vouchers, cash, and Weet-Bix cereal to communities still suffering the effects of the massive storm. Food vouchers and cash were supplied in partnership with World Food Programme and actually do double the good work. First, families are […]

Flooding in Brazil Affects Thousands

ADRA Brazil is activating their emergency response mobile unit to reach families following flooding that affected around 9,000 people. The mobile unit will allow ADRA staff to reach those in need with meals, washing and drying of clothes, as well as psychosocial support as they recover from the emergency. donate now

ADRA Response Continues in Aftermath of Fire in Philippines

Around 2,000 families were affected by a large fire in the Navotas fish port of Manila, which is a notoriously impoverished area. More than 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, leaving those affected living in shelters without the basic household items. ADRA Philippines is responding to provide kits for hundreds of these families. Each kit contains essentials […]

ADRA Indonesia Providing Shelter After Earthquake

Shelter kits will be distributed for more than 900 people who were displaced by the recent earthquake in Indonesia. ADRA Indonesia has conducted assessments and will be distributing the shelter kits to displaced households in Pidie Jaya district, where shelter is an immediate need. Each kit includes tarpaulins, ropes, poles, nails, and a hammer. The 6.5 […]

We Thank God: Marie’s Story from Haiti

Marie-Denise Dorvilier, 53 years old and a mother of nine, remembers Hurricane Matthew like a nightmare. “I heard the wind, and I went out of the house and started running. A metal wire strangled me and I fell to the ground. Despite all the metal sheets flying around, I rose up again and began running towards […]

ADRA Sending 2,850,000 Meals to Haiti

ADRA’s Hurricane Matthew Response in Haiti Continues with Major Delivery of Meals MIAMI, FLORIDA—Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has partnered with Stop Hunger Now to deliver 2,851,200 meals to people in Haiti as part of their ongoing Hurricane Matthew disaster response. ADRA and Stop Hunger Now have joined with Airlink, a rapid-response relief organization that […]

Where Else Will I Go: Joyeuse’s Story

ADRA’s response to Hurricane Matthew in Haiti is still going strong. Our disaster relief has reached more than 100,000 people with clean water, food, shelter supplies, and other resources. Today, Joyeuse shares her story with you. Sixty-year-old Joyeuse Sincere has never lived anywhere outside the uplands of Roche-A-Bateaux in Haiti, the only place she calls […]

World Food Day: Success Sprouts in Madagascar

Today is World Food Day and to celebrate, we want to share the success you’ve helped bring to hungry families around the world. The global message from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for this year’s World Food Day is “Climate is Changing. Food and agriculture must too.” It’s clear that […]

Voices from Haiti

Behind every disaster are the people, families, and communities who have been affected. Our emergency response team in Haiti are meeting some of these amazing people as they work, and we want to share a few of their stories with you. donate now Jesus-la, 21, Les Cayes Hurricane Matthew has taken Jesus-la’s home, her animals, and […]

Haiti Update: Hurricane Matthew Response Continues

Donations to ADRA’s emergency fund are still needed as the response to Hurricane Matthew continues. An astounding 2.1 million have been greatly affected by the effects if Hurricane Matthew, including close to 900,000 children. Around 1,000 lost their lives to the storm in Haiti alone. For any country, this is huge. For a country already on its knees, […]

Adventist volunteers in Portugal: “We’re following Christ’s example of feeding the hungry.”

Dedicated staff are the backbone of ADRA’s work, but we still wouldn’t be able to reach as many communities and individuals without our volunteers. One place this is especially evident is Portugal. Despite only having two staff members, ADRA Portugal operates 70 national projects. This is possible because around 700 people, nearly 10 percent of […]

Flooding in India Leads to ADRA Emergency Response

ADRA India is distributing non-food items (NFI) to households who have been hit by a flood emergency impacting Bihar state near the border with Nepal. Staff from ADRA India carried out needs assessments with local partners and is activating their response to target 200 of the most vulnerable households affected by the flood waters. The NFI […]

Uganda Responding to Influx of Refugees from South Sudan

An average of 1,500 refugees are arriving to Uganda every day as they flee uncertainty and violence in South Sudan. ADRA Uganda is working closely with partners on the border and in the country to meet the needs of the steady stream of these displaced people. The first response activity is the distribution of non-food item packs, which […]

Landslides in Nepal Lead to 1,000 Displaced Households

Continuous rainfall in late July led to landslides in Nepal, which took the lives of 38 people and left close to 1,000 without homes in one district alone. ADRA Nepal is coordinating with local agencies and government, and have already distributed 150 sets of temporary shelter kits to families in the most highly affected areas, and will […]

Emergency Distribution Underway in Macedonia Following Flooding

ADRA Macedonia has collected water, food, and hygiene supplies and is distributing in areas hit by heavy rain and flooding. This distribution will begin by targeting 1,000 people with the most need, but will hopefully expand as more resources are available. There is still a strong need for clothing and ADRA Macedonia will continue to […]

ADRA Responding to Earthquake in Peru

ADRA Peru has formed a First Response Team and is providing emergency response in Arequipa, Peru after a 5.4 earthquake shook the region. The earthquake struck on August 14, affecting close to 2,000 families. 1,074 houses are inhabitable and close to 400 have completely collapsed. Soon after the earthquake, ADRA Peru’s First Response Team served […]

A Day in the Field with ADRA Ukraine

The circumstances in which ADRA Ukraine’s Mariupol sub-office work are uniquely challenging. Ukraine has had years of conflict and unrest, and ADRA’s team in the country carry out their mission even as their own safety is at risk. ADRA Ukraine Mariupol field coordinator Roman Pleshkun shared his experience from a recent delivery of water […]

ADRA’s Response in South Sudan Continues

ADRA South Sudan’s distribution of emergency food is ongoing, with an estimate of 631 households receiving food packs as of early August. Each food pack includes complete rations of 25 kg (55 lb) of rice, 5 kg (11 lb) of beans, 3 liters of oil, and 250 mg of salt. Hunger is a major issue as […]

3,000 Sheltering at SDA Compound and Receiving Care from ADRA

ADRA is providing emergency response to 3,000 people taking shelter at the Seventh-day Adventist Church compound in Juba, South Sudan. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) taking refuge at the compound doubled from the original 1,500 people and grows to around 5,000 at night. An existing clinic on the compound has been providing healthcare to […]

1,500 Take Refuge on Seventh-day Adventist Compound in South Sudan

Around 1,500 internally displaced persons (IDPs) have taken refuge on the Seventh-day Adventist Church/ADRA compound in South Sudan’s capital of Juba as renewed violence erupted in the city last week. Most of the IDPs are women, children, and elderly from the surrounding community. The church building, school classrooms, and even covered verandas are full to […]

ADRA’s Statement on World Refugee Day

Silver Spring, Md.— This World Refugee Day, there are more than 60 million people around the world who are internally displaced, seeking asylum, or living as refugees in other countries. The United Nations has described the Syrian crisis, which has displaced approximately half of the country’s population, as the biggest humanitarian emergency of our era. […]

Children shouldn’t be victims: The hard life of a child refugee

When we ask refugees why they fled their country, the majority of people tell us that they left because they feared for the safety of their children. We heard harrowing stories of forced marriages, abductions, near-misses with snipers’ bullets, and spoke to a mother who lost twin one-year-olds in a bombing. Another mother asked her […]

I am a human: Sonia’s Story

My name is Sonia. I am 25 years old and I am from Afghanistan, in the Badakhshan province. I was a GIZ [a German company that specializes in international development] employee for five years beginning in 2009. I was working for a gender project of our partner, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs. We were conducting […]

‘I thank ADRA for letting me help my people’: A translator’s story

Fahad, 24, is an ADRA translator from Iraq. His family left when he was 14 years old. “There was no electricity and no water. I go out and see dead people, I see bombs. I was in school when a bomb fell nearby, and blew out the windows of the school. It takes you a […]

‘It was like a horror movie’: Idomeni Refugee Camp, Greece

When Europe started closing its borders and refugees entering Greece became stranded, many of them congregated in Idomeni. The informal camp was the largest in Greece, with more than 10,000 people gathering at the Macedonian border hoping to be allowed to continue on their journey. An unofficial camp, there was no government assistance for services […]

Everything costs money: EKO Station Refugee Camp, Greece

EKO Station is an unofficial camp in Greece. That means that the camp just sprung up, and there is no government services or support for refugees. Up to 1,300 refugees having been living there for the past few months, since Macedonia closed its border with Greece. For many, it was a welcome alternative to Idomeni, […]

Our Global Work with Refugees

Thank you for serving refugees around the world – this work couldn’t be done without you. Everywhere you see marked in red on this map is a place where you are making it possible for ADRA staff and volunteers to serve people who have been forcibly displaced by conflict and persecution. Helping refugee and internally […]

‘I didn’t want to leave Syria’: A translator’s story

Lina, 25, is Serbian-Syrian, born in Serbia to a Serbian mother and Syrian father. When she was 12, her father died, and she traveled to Syria with her mother and older brother, Samir, to return his body to his homeland. They didn’t plan to stay long, but as her mother now had two children to […]

ADRA Honduras Seeing Success in Zika Prevention

ADRA is acting to help stop the spread of Zika in Honduras, where 30,768 infections have been reported. ADRA Honduras is actively working in communities where the Zika and Chikungunya viruses have infected thousands. The main objective this response effort is to provide prevention actions thru mobilizing and training community health volunteers, community cleaning campaigns, raising awareness […]

When fear clouds our compassion

In just a few short months, the response to refugees fleeing violence in the Middle East has gone from one of compassion and welcome, to one of fear and condemnation. Over and over again, we are hearing that we shouldn’t help refugees because they are terrorists, and that helping them puts our lives at risk. […]

Our Work With Refugees in Asia

MYANMAR For decades, Myanmar has experienced ongoing conflict in various states throughout the country. ADRA Myanmar has several projects benefitting internally displaced persons (IDPs). The projects have two key focus areas: Assisting children displaced by conflict through improving education standards and learning environments IDPs living in camps through providing health services/facilities, hygiene promotion training, support […]

Helping Refugees in the Americas

ARGENTINA 2016 was a record-breaking year for Argentina in terms of asylum applications. The UNHCR estimates that there are approximately 5,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Argentina from over 100 nationalities. Over 90% live in Buenos Aires, Argentina´s capital and largest city. Although the country is a regional leader on refugee protection, significant challenges remain, […]

Impacting the Lives of Refugees in Africa

CAMEROON ADRA Cameroon are active in Minawao camp, which houses Nigerian refugees displaced by Boko Haram. ADRA selected 400 beneficiaries, and distributed to them WASH kits. The kits include soap, towels, and containers to gather and store water. Beneficiaries also attended a two-day sensitization program to learn about best practices for hygiene, maintaining a clean […]

Helping Refugees in the Middle East

IRAQ ADRA Kurdistan is active in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kurdistan, Iraq. When many people fled, they could take little or nothing with them. The tents the IDPs live in the camp are cold, and people were in need of winter clothing. Thanks to generous donors, ADRA Kurdistan was able to distribute […]

ADRA Responds to Flooding in Uruguay

Hygiene and disinfecting kits distributed to those affected by flooding in Uruguay. Around the same time that a tornado was causing extensive damage in the country, extensive flooding was also being reported in Uruguay. Rivers and streams rose significantly, leading to the urgent evacuation of close to 3,000 people. Another 7,700 chose to evacuate themselves […]

Highlights from our work with refugees in Europe

AUSTRIA Austria is one of the countries where refugees are seeking asylum (almost 90,000 in 2015). ADRA Austria mobilized and is supporting church members across the country in assisting refugees during the long integration process. At least 10 churches in the country have ongoing refugee projects. One church is renting the empty pastor’s apartment to […]

Donate to Support Refugees Around the World

U.S.A. Every donation provides urgent assistance, access to essential services, and much-needed food, hygiene items, and other vital resources for refugees. Donations are tax-deductible for US residents and will receive a receipt. SLOVENIA If you would like to support ADRA Slovenia’s work with the refugees, you can help by making a donation. Donations will help […]

Shelter Supplies for Households Affected by Tornado in Uruguay

Households hit by April’s tornado in Uruguay have access to shelter supplies thanks to ADRA Uruguay On April 15, a strong tornado hit the city of Dolores in Uruguay and caused serious damage, particularly in the downtown area. The most affected neighborhoods were Altos de Dolores, Santa Marta, Italia Chica, and Florencio. In response to […]

Cyclone Ruano Brings Flooding to Bangladesh

ADRA Bangladesh is responding to flooding caused by Cyclone Ruano. Cyclone Ruano swept onto the Bangladesh coastline on May 21, bringing with it flash floods and heavy damage. In some areas, flood protection embankments are broken, allowing seawater to flood homes and crops that were ready to harvest. At this time, estimates for the loss or […]

ADRA Responds to Flooding in Sri Lanka

ADRA is providing response in Sri Lanka following heavy rains and flooding. ADRA Sri Lanka has begun a national emergency management plan (NEMP) response in the country’s Kilinochchi District, providing hygiene kits to 350 affected families, with plans to expand as soon as possible. Nearly half a million people in Sri Lanka have already been […]

Vietnam Seeing Effects of El Niño in Drought Conditions

ADRA is providing food emergency food to homes affected by the El Niño-driven drought in Vietnam. The central area of Vietnam has been hit by the most severe drought the region has seen in 100 years. This drought crisis is a direct consequence of the powerful El Niño system that has caused similar emergency conditions […]

ADRA’s Statement at World Humanitarian Summit

ADRA President States Commitments to Action at World Humanitarian Summit ISTANBUL, TURKEY—ADRA president, Jonathan Duffy, delivered a statement on stage at the World Humanitarian Summit on Tuesday. The statement shared the ADRA network’s commitments to action in support of the Summit’s Agenda for Humanity. Video of Mr. Duffy’s presentation can be viewed on UNTV: http://webtv.un.org/watch/jonathan-duffy-adra-international-world-humanitarian-summit-istanbul-2016-member-states-and-stakeholders-announcements/4909621709001 […]

Yazidis: An Ancient Faith Under Attack

Yazidis are a minority religious group, mostly living in northern Iraq. Their religion is believed to have been founded in the 11th century, and is derived from combining elements of Christianity, Islam and an ancient Persian faith. They are also ethnically Kurdish, another minority group in Iraq. There are around 700,000 Yazidis, despite their having […]

ADRA to Attend World Humanitarian Summit

ADRA Commits to Action for the World Humanitarian Summit ISTANBUL, TURKEY – Jonathan Duffy, President of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International, and Frank Teeuwen, Director of United Nations (UN) Liaison Office, will be representing ADRA’s global network of humanitarians at the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit set to take place in Istanbul on 23-24 […]

Get the Facts: Refugees and IDPs

The world is now witnessing the highest levels of displacement ever recorded. Beyond sensational headlines, there is a lot to learn about refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Refugees Worldwide Every 2 minutes, a person is forced from their home due to conflict or persecution. In total, around 68.5 million people in the world are […]

The Humanitarian: Maja’s Story

It all started as a normal Sabbath—I went to church with my family, and we had lunch with friends. Then I received a phone call: “Get prepared. There are several thousand refugees approaching the Slovenian border.” There was never a question as to whether we would help. A few hours later, we welcomed the first […]

I Do Not Want to Remember: Said’s Story

Said is only 14, but has experienced hardships that no child should face. In Serbia, he shared his family’s story. “Mom and dad told us that we are going to Europe. We did not took anything with us, except of one spare clothe for each of us. They did not tell us how will we […]

When the Bombs Fell: Loubana’s Story

It’s been three years, but Loubana’s children still have nightmares about the day their Syrian home was bombed. “I remember when I hid under the stairs when the bombs were falling,” says Nour, who was only 6 at the time. Loubana and her family had a good life in Syria. Her husband, Hasan, owned a […]

Ecuador Earthquake Response Continues

ADRA’s disaster response is into its second week after a devastating earthquake hit the country of Ecuador. ADRA Ecuador has been mobilizing hundreds of active volunteers in the most affected areas of the country. These volunteers are running collection sites that receive donations of nonperishable food and basic hygiene items from church members and the general public, as well […]

Four Earthquake, Four Days, Three Countries

Four strong earthquakes in four days have shaken Myanmar, Japan, and Ecuador. Myanmar The first earthquake was a reported 6.9 magnitude in the country of Myanmar on Wednesday. Thankfully, no major damage has been reported and there were no casualties. Japan Japan saw back to back shakes–a 6.4 magnitude on Thursday, now being call a […]

Tackling Zika in Dominican Republic with Hygiene and Education

ADRA is helping to prevent the spread of Zika in the Dominican Republic by providing hygiene kits and health education to almost 6,000 people. ADRA Dominican Republic have already distributed nearly 500 household kits that contain hygiene supplies to prevent the spread of disease, as well as detailed information about the Zika virus and how it is spread. […]

More Rain Brings More Floods in Brazil

ADRA is assisting around 500 families with emergency food after flooding has forced them from their homes in Brazil. Abnormal heavy rains in recent days has caused the level of the Jaru River to rise, leaving 485 families homeless in Jaru, Rondonia, about 290 km from Porto Velho. These displaced families are in need of food, and ADRA’s […]

European Refugee Crisis: Greece and Asylum Seekers

Balkan borders have closed to refugees seeking safety in Europe. ADRA has turned much of its attention to refugees and migrants stranded in Greece, and those seeking legal asylum. Greece ADRA’s emergency response team (ERT) were deployed to Greece in March. Staff members from ADRA Slovakia have been distributing hygiene kits to refugees in Idomeni, as well […]

Flooding in Sãu Paulo Prompts Emergency Response from ADRA Brazil

In mid-March, the São Paulo State of Brazil was hit by heavy rains, reported as the highest rainfall ever recorded for this time of year in the area. Several cities were left with flooding-water and mud reaching over 1 meter (3.3 feet), and the water is decreasing very slowly, which increases the risk of disease. Many […]

ADRA Responding to El Niño Drought Emergency in Africa

ADRA is responding to a serious drought affecting countries across southern Africa, where El Niño conditions have caused the lowest ever recorded rainfall between October and December 2015, as well as countries in the Horn of Africa region. It is estimated that 40 million rural people and 9 million poor urban people who live in drought-affected […]

ADRA Reaches Thousands with Family Planning in Nepal

ADRA Concludes Successful Family Planning Project in Nepal ADRA has marked the end of their Technical Integration for Coverage and Access (TICA) project in Nepal, but are already making plans to use results from the successful project for future project planning. This project was supported by the United States for International Development (USAID) through the […]

ADRA Supports World Humanitarian Summit

ADRA Supports World Humanitarian Summit and Proposed Goals for Worldwide Change ISTANBUL, TURKEY –The first ever World Humanitarian Summit will take place on May 23-24, 2016, in Istanbul, Turkey. The event was initiated by the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, and focuses on a call to action for worldwide change. Adventist Development and Relief Agency […]

European Refugee Crisis: ADRA expands response as refugee influx continues

The refugee crisis in Europe shows no signs of abating. Already this year, more than 131,000 people made the journey across the Mediterranean, with almost 123,000 refugees landing in Greece, according to the UNHCR. ADRA has projects assisting refugees in seven Eastern European countries, where we’ve already helped over 120,000 refugees. Our response has included […]

Cyclone Winston: Aid begins to flow but more needed

Relief efforts have begun in earnest following Tropical Cyclone Winston. “Getting food to families is the most urgent need at the moment,” said Iliapi Tuwai, Country Director for ADRA Fiji. “With gardens and farms destroyed there is little for people to eat. Children are hungry and disease is starting to grow.” The food packs distributed by […]

Cyclone Winston Cuts Power, Water, and Communication in Fiji

Twenty-four hours after Cyclone Winston smashed Fiji, the full picture of its destruction remains unknown. Power, water, communication, roads and other vital infrastructure remain cut and many parts of the country, including the regions likely hardest hit by the Category 5 storm, are not contactable. The official death toll has risen to five. “From my […]

Worst Cyclone to Ever Hit Fiji Cuts Power, Water, and Communication

Fiji in the Dark Following Cyclone Winston SUVA, FIJI— Twenty-four hours after Cyclone Winston smashed Fiji the full picture of the destruction remains unknown. Power, water, communication, roads and other vital infrastructure remain cut and many parts of the country, including the regions likely hardest hit by the Category 5 storm, are not contactable. The […]

Cyclone Winston: ADRA Prepared to Respond in Fiji

As category five Tropical Cyclone Winston bears down on Fiji, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is ready to respond. According to the Fiji MET service, Cyclone Winston made landfall early Sunday morning (local time) with devastating winds averaging 220km/h and gusts up to 315km/h. “The government has been active in warning and preparing […]

Kyrgyzstan Rocked by Earthquake

In mid-November a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Osh province in Kyrgyzstan, affecting six districts. ADRA distributed food aid to some of the estimated 15,000 people affected by the disaster. Food packages containing two weeks worth of food were delivered to 165 families, benefiting almost 1000 people. Over 4000 homes were damaged, 800 of these […]

ADRA Colombia Honored by Government for Decades of Humanitarian Work

BOGOTA, Colombia—ADRA Colombia was last week awarded the Order of Democracy of Simon Bolivar by the Government of Colombia. The award was instituted in 1980, and is awarded for extraordinary services to Colombia. The award consists of a medal and certificate. The award was presented by House Representative Hernan Sinisterra Valencia, who said that the […]

Deadly floods displace 1.8m in India

ADRA has distributed food packages to families displaced by flooding in southern India. Floods have devastated Tamil Nadu state in India following weeks of heavy rain. Almost 270 people have died, and 1.8 million have been affected. For people living in low-lying villages near lakes and rivers, water levels rose so rapidly they had to […]

At the Train Station: Mayas’ Story

It is crowded at the train station at Tabanovce as the refugees exit the train. Today they have crossed the border from Greece, where they arrived in Europe, and boarded the train at the first station in Macedonia. The few tents put up for shelters are quickly filled up, and families must find other places […]

No Crib for a Bed: Qamar’s Story

At one month old, Qamar has nowhere to call home. Her parents, Mustafa and Hala, are refugees who fled Syria to escape growing violence and the threat of terror that surrounded them. They left their home in Damascus two months before we met them. Hala gave birth to beautiful Qamar as they made their way […]

Displaced & Attacked: Abdullah’s Story

On a given day, hundreds of refugees may trickle across borders or they may come in waves of thousands. Today, a group of fifty were crossing into Serbia from Bulgaria, so there was time for ADRA team members to make conversation. One volunteer spoke at length with a father named Abdullah, who was leading his […]

Haitian-Dominican Refugees Forced Out of Dominican Republic Flood into Haiti

Around half a million Dominicans of Haitian descent are facing deportation in the Dominican Republic. Two years ago a court decision stripped Dominicans born to Haitian migrants of their citizenship, retroactively applied to anyone born after 1929. This ruling left tens of thousands of Dominican-born people of Haitian descent stateless, and facing being forced to […]

European Refugee Crisis: Refugees Re-routed through Croatia

In the first month after Hungary closed its border to Serbia in mid-September, 150,000 refugees have entered Croatia. On average around 6,000 refugees are entering Croatia on a daily basis, the majority of whom are using Croatia only as a transit route. As they continue their arduous trek through Europe, these refugees are in need […]

Philippines Hit by Another Typhoon

Typhoon Koppu (known locally as Lando) brought torrential rains that caused massive flooding in seven regions of the Philippines. Close to half a million people were displaced, and thousands of homes were destroyed. More than 50 people were killed during several days of severe weather. ADRA Philippines were one of the first NGOs to arrive […]

Nobody Asks Children: Said’s Story

Said is only 14, but has experienced hardships that no child should face. In Serbia, he shared his family’s story: “Mom and dad told us that we are going to Europe. We did not took anything with us, except of one spare clothe for each of us. They did not tell us how will we […]

Two Responses to Flooding in Brazil

ADRA is responding to flooding in Brazil after intense and prolonged rainfall caused by the El Niño effect. Our response focuses on two Brazilian states that were hit hard by the rainfall. The majority of waterways in Rio Grande do Sul have risen above their capacity, displacing thousands of families in heavily flooded areas. Rivers in Santa […]

European Refugee Crisis: Slovenia and No-Man’s Land

A No-Man’s land exists where refugees leaving Croatia must wait before they can enter Slovenia. Sometimes hours turn into overnight, leaving refugees hungry and cold. ADRA Slovenia has set up temporary shelters so refugees can rest, and also prepare food that is available for all. This is the first meal in a long time for many of […]

Nepal: 6 Months Later

Today marks 6 months since a devastating earthquake hit the beautiful country of Nepal in April. The quake and its strong aftershocks killed close to 10,000 and left hundreds of thousands without even the basics to start again. Your emergency donations helped provide shelter, food, access to medical care, and so much more. Thanks to all […]

Hurricane Patricia Makes Landfall and ADRA Responds

Hurricane Patricia made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast around 6.15pm local time Friday night, carrying winds of around 165 mph. The Category 5 hurricane is being reported as the most powerful hurricane ever recorded with winds peaking at 200 mph hours before landfall. ADRA’s emergency response is already planned, with the first focus to be a […]

ADRA Prepares for Biggest Hurricane in History to Make Landfall in Mexico

ADRA has been monitoring Hurricane Patricia and making preparations as it approachest Mexico’s west central coast. The massive Category 5 storm is measuring as the strongest hurricane ever recorded, and will likely maintain its current wind speeds of 200 mph as it makes landfall on Friday night. Staff and volunteers from ADRA Mexico are in […]

European Refugee Crisis: A Warm Response in Greece

Thousands of refugees are arriving on the shores of Greece every day. After the treacherous trip across the Mediterranean, in rubber dinghies over high waves, they arrive far from where they are able to get legal papers and continue their journey. Colder weather is now adding to severe exhaustion and hunger as threats to these displaced […]

Responding to Hurricane Marty in Mexico

In early October, Hurricane Marty hit parts of Mexico with winds up to 70 km/h, causing massive damage to hundreds of homes. The storm affected more than 9,000 people and dumped 80 mm of rain on Port of Guaymas, Sonora in particular. ADRA Mexico is working closely with the Municipal Civil Protection Departments of the affected municipalities, […]

ADRA Position on Refugee Crisis

ADRA Calls for Humane Response to Refugee Crisis in Europe Silver Spring, Md.— The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) today released its official position statement on the refugee crisis in Europe. Last year the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the Syrian war had sparked the “biggest humanitarian emergency of our era.” As […]

Emergency Food Assistance for Returnees in Colombia

ADRA is distributing food kits to more 1,700 Colombian families who have been deported from Venezuela back to Colombia after Venezuela closed the border in August of this year. Each food kit is enough to sustain a family of five for two weeks, and includes staples such as rice, beans, corn flour, vegetable oil, sugar, […]

European Refugee Crisis: Macedonia

Macedonia is one of of the most impacted countries involved in the current refugee crisis in Europe. As many as 6,000 people per day are crossing into the country, most on their way to other Serbia and other destinations, but bringing with them great needs. ADRA Macedonia is now in action, distributing food packages and hygiene kits for […]

ADRA Commits to Sustainable Development Goals [Statement]

ADRA Remains Committed to the Sustainable Development Goals As the United Nations gathers this week to launch the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the next 15 years, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) affirms its commitment to our partnership with the United Nations and the new Global Goals for 2030. The momentum we have […]

ADRA Peru Celebrates 50 Years

Peruvian Congress Recognizes ADRA Peru’s 50 Years of Service LIMA, Peru—Last week, Peru’s Congress recognized ADRA Peru for 50 years of humanitarian service to the country. ADRA Peru marked half a decade of work with a full day of celebrations. The ceremonies included distributing 50 wheelchairs to children in need at Plaza José Faustino del […]

ADRA Joins UN in Global Goals

ADRA Joins United Nations in Sustainable Development Goals ADRA is preparing to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals around the world when they launch later this month. The Global Goals, as they are being called, expand and follow up on the Millennium Development Goals, which were established in 2000 and expire at the end […]

Rain Brings Deadly Floods to Niger

The annual rainy season in Niger has turned deadly with flooding that has taken 22 lives and affected an estimated 52,000 people across eight regions. Agricultural lands have been destroyed, leaving families without the food and income that crops usually provide. Most are receiving little or no support from the government. ADRA’s response begins this […]

Crisis: Refugees in Europe

The escalating refugee crisis in Europe is seeing hundreds of thousands of people fleeing violence in war-torn Syria and other countries. Travel for these refugees is treacherous, conditions are desperate, and cold weather is fast approaching. Refugees need urgent assistance. Help ADRA respond. Throughout Europe, you can help us reach refugees at every step – in their […]

Refugee Crisis in Europe Continues

Refugee Crisis in Europe Continues, ADRA Opens Refugee Center in Belgrade BELGRADE, Serbia— As tens of thousands of refugees continue to flee to Europe, ADRA is working overtime in Serbia to ensure that vulnerable families are cared for in this time of crisis. Last week, ADRA and its partners (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, […]

ADRA Responds to Flooding in Myanmar

ADRA Myanmar staff gets creative to reach flood victims SILVER SPRING, Md.—Severe flooding in Myanmar from a heavy monsoon season and Cyclone Komen have affected more than 1 million people, with waters taking lives, inundating homes and businesses and destroying livelihoods since July. ADRA has already distributed food kits to 400 families by employing creative […]

ADRA Provides Education to Displaced Iraqis in Kurdistan

KURDISTAN, Iraq –Violence in Iraq has displaced at least 3 million people, 50 percent of which have fled to the Kurdish-controlled governorates in the north of Iraq where the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working. For more than six months, ADRA has been operating in Baharka Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp providing services […]

ADRA Provides Disaster Relief for Flood Victims in Chile

CHILE – It has been several months since unusually heavy thunderstorms and torrential rain hit communities in Northern Chile including Copiaco, Chañaral, Caldera, Tierra Amarilla, Diego de Almagro, Alto del Carmen, Freirina, Huasco and Vallenar in the Atacama region. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to provide urgent care and relief to the […]

Farewell from GC Session San Antonio

We don’t like goodbyes, so instead we’ll say “See you soon!” Thank you for visiting us at GC Session 2015. Four days after the close of GC Session, most of ADRA’s staff are back at our desks, facing the hustle and bustle of humanitarian work. Before we got too deep into our duties, we wanted […]

#ServeTheOne Series: Meet the Need

Jeff Tatarchuk USA “Service means loving people unconditionally without expecting anything in return. My favorite way to serve is in the urban metropolitan areas. The hooder the better. Quote that.” Marquis Johns USA “Service means coming out of your comfort zone in order to make someone else comfortable. You know, I’m a pastor and I love it […]

#ServeTheOne Series: Use your Gifts

Barbara McCoy, Pastor Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church Florida, USA “Service to me means praying and asking God: ‘how am I gifted?’ Once I understand how I’m gifted then praying and asking ‘how can I use that gift to reach people for you?’ And it can be in many different capacities. Just open yourself […]

#ServeTheOne Series: The Arts

Lynn Boyd, Country Director for ADRA Mozambique Mozambique “Christian education is how I serve.” Julie Penner USA “Giving part of who I am and sharing it with other people is what gives me a passion to serve.” Mahal Tio Arizona “You serve for a reason, and my reason is God. I serve by […]

#ServeTheOne Series: The Humanitarians

Mario Ochoa, ADRA VP for Human Resources & Leadership Development Silver Spring, Maryland (USA) “Service, to me, is to give of yourself to others and it’s the embodiment of discipleship. We want to serve our brothers, our sisters, our neighbors, all the people.” Imad Madanat, ADRA VP for Programs Silver Spring, Maryland (USA) “If we […]

#ServeTheOne Series: Without Words

John Graham San Antonio, Texas (USA) “Service means everything to me. Don’t be intimidated to serve. Just have fun.” Ron Whitehead, Executive Director, CYE Berrien Springs, Michigan (USA) “Service is the ultimate way to express spirituality. My favorite way to serve is building relationships with people. How can you build a relationship with someone […]

#ServeTheOne Series: GC Session

Hanael Saint-Louis Gabriel France “Serving people is something like putting others on top. Sometimes I serve people by smiling with them and being happy. I know life sometimes can be tough so I try to serve people by smiling with them. My smile can help them to be happy and less depressed.” Maeva Saint-Louis […]

Be the One to Serve the One

ADRA calls Adventists to “Be the one to serve the One” at 2015 General Conference Session SAN ANTONIO—At the 2015 General Conference Session, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International is calling Adventists from all over the world to join the movement to bring about long-lasting and positive change to communities around the world. […]

Support for Refugees of Burundi Crisis

Recognizing World Refugee Day 2015: ADRA Provides Support for Refugees of Burundi Crisis BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI – As World Refugee Day approaches, ADRA is responding to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Burundi amidst the upcoming presidential election and recent coup attempts. Violence broke in Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, and in Makamba province, on April 26 and has […]

One month since Earthquake in Nepal, ADRA responds

Take Care Nepal: One month since Earthquake in Nepal, ADRA responds to community needs KATHMANDU, NEPAL —It has been one month since the Gorkha earthquake hit Nepal and almost three weeks since a second quake rocked the country. ADRA continues to provide urgent care and relief to the hundreds of thousands afflicted by this catastrophe. “Many […]

Second Earthquake Strikes Nepal

ADRA Continues Relief Efforts as Second Earthquake Strikes Nepal WASHINGTON, DC.— A second earthquake has struck Nepal in almost as many weeks, hampering already strained relief efforts and inflicting a new wave of damage across the country. The 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck 42 miles (68km) west of the town of Namche Bazaar, close to Mount […]

ADRA, GlobalMedic Deliver Medical Tents

ADRA and GlobalMedic partner to distribute tents to replace health posts KATHMANDU, NEPAL— ADRA and GlobalMedic have partnered to provide large tents that will provide a temporary place for health posts that have been damaged or destroyed by last month’s earthquake. “The people of 10 communities in Kavre District will have a better place to […]

ADRA prepares food packs for Nepal

ADRA distributes food packs; partners with Scheer Memorial Hospital KATHMANDU, NEPAL—ADRA staff and volunteers began packing food kits complete with rice, lentils, noodles, sugar, salt, and oil yesterday. The packs will last a family of six for two weeks, and will be distributed this weekend. Twenty-six community volunteers met ADRA staff yesterday at the […]

Beauty in the Brokenness

I never imagined my first visit to Nepal would be to lead the communication efforts during the aftermath of a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. But here I am. I’m here in the middle of a disaster zone grabbing breakfast with the rest of our emergency response team (ERT), thinking about what I’ve seen so far since I […]

ADRA distributes tarps in remote villages

ADRA distributes tarps in hard to reach villages in Nepal KATHMANDU, NEPAL—ADRA Nepal staff are working around the clock to deliver much-needed tarps and food to families in remote villages in Dhading and Kavre. Tough road conditions, including rubble from houses destroyed by the earthquake is making distributions more difficult. ADRA workers are driving up […]

Shelter Distribution Begins in Nepal

Response to the earthquake in Nepal continues as ADRA begins to distribute much needed shelter to affected families in Dhading and Kavre districts. Rainfall has already begun in Kathmandu and other affected areas. Meteorologists have predicted rainfall for the next 10 days, creating difficulty and discomfort for those still forced to sleep outside. “We are working […]

ADRA Begins Shelter Distribution

ADRA Begins Shelter Distribution in Nepal KATHMANDU, NEPAL— Response to the earthquake in Nepal continues as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency begins to distribute much needed shelter to affected families in Dhading and Kavre districts. Rainfall has already begun in Kathmandu and other affected areas. Meteorologists have predicted rainfall for the next 10 days, creating […]

Massive 7.8 Earthquake Devastates Nepal

A 7.9 magnitude earthquake has devastated much of Nepal, leaving thousands dead, injured, and missing. Search and rescue teams have yet to reach remote and rural regions and with strong aftershocks still shaking the country, more destruction is anticipated, with a likely increase in the death toll. The need in Nepal is strong and very […]

Pray for Victims of Earthquake in Nepal

ADRA Emergency Director: “Pray for Victims of Earthquake in Nepal” Updated on April 25 at 3:44 p.m. KATHMANDU, NEPAL— A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook Nepal about 50 miles from its capital, Kathmandu, on Saturday, leveling buildings and killing hundreds. News sources are reporting 1,400 deaths so far, with the death toll rising. The earthquake hit […]

ADRA’s Ebola Response Continues

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa was unprecedented in its scale, with 25,600 reported cases and 10,600 deaths. Along with the health threat, Ebola also disrupted farming, economic activity, school systems, and even social customs, leaving very few not affected. ADRA’s Ebola response in Liberia and Sierra Leone is focused on three main areas: Awareness […]

ADRA Urges USAID Leader Appointment

ADRA encourages President Obama to appoint USAID Administrator WASHINGTON, DC.— On April 15, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International joined more than 100 other individuals and nongovernmental organizations in advocating President Barack Obama to nominate a permanent Administrator to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Although ADRA commends the work of […]

Support for Victims of Boko Haram Insurgency

ADRA Continues to Support Victims of Boko Haram Insurgency LAGOS, NIGERIA—One year ago, Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria captured the attention of the world and provoked the #BringBackOurGirls viral campaign. On Monday April 13, UNICEF announced that Boko Haram has to date rendered a total of 800,000 children and their […]

From Here to There

Welcome to ADRA’s new blog! We are very excited to have this outlet where we can share not only what we do, but also how and why we do it. Whether your contribution is a prayer from your heart or a donation from your pocket, we want you to see how your action here changes […]

A Woman’s World

A Woman’s World: Behind the Scenes With Sanjay Seated at the large oak desk centered in her expansive office, I couldn’t believe that Hermilia’s successful career as a lawyer was built entirely with the money she earned from a copy machine business just a few years ago. But here in the high plateau city of […]

Vital Needs Met in Vanuatu

PORT VILA, VANUATU— ADRA Vanuatu continues to support the response to Tropical Cyclone Pam by providing local communities in need with safety, food, and access to water. On Friday, 130 water filtration kits were distributed to four locations in the northeast area of Efate, the main island of Vanuatu. The filtration kits convert contaminated water […]

Cleanup After Cyclone Pam Begins

Cleanup begins in Vanuatu, ADRA’s response continues PORT VILA, VANUATU— The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is playing a key role in securing the health and sanitation in 10 of the 20 evacuation centers in Port Vila. ADRA has made plumbed water available at nine of the 10 evacuation centers with the last evacuation […]

Long Road Ahead for Vanuatu

“Severe and long-lasting crisis for Vanuatu” PORT VILA, VANUATU—“This is going to be a longterm recovery and rebuilding process for Vanuatu. Agriculture, houses, and infrastructure have been destroyed,” reported Mark le Roux, ADRA Vanuatu Country Director reported after meetings with local partners and aid agencies. “This will be a severe and long-lasting crisis for Vanuatu.” […]

Cyclone Pam wreaks havoc in Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Pam wreaks havoc in Vanuatu, ADRA in place to respond PORT VILA, VANUATU—Tropical Cyclone Pam ripped through the islands of Vanuatu yesterday, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is already on the ground in place to respond in coordination with local partners and aid […]

ADRA Prepares for Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu

ADRA ready to respond to Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu PORT VILA, VANUATU 4:30 p.m.—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is on high alert as category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam hits the archipelago of Vanuatu. ADRA is prepositioned to release emergency kits from three warehouses in Shefa, Efate, and Tafea. The kits include soap, […]

Turning a New Leaf

Turning a New Leaf: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay On the gentle slope of the green hill upon which I stand, there occurred atrocities too horrible for most people to imagine. On this hill, perhaps even this exact spot, children were killed by children, fathers by fathers. Here on the hill, a thousand more like […]

Any Lengths

Any Lengths: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay The noon sun glares down from an azure sky and, even under the canopy of trees, I feel its convective omnipresence in my lungs, in my shoes, in my skull. Sweat stings my eyes. I blink to clear my vision, my foot strikes a root and I stumble. […]

Stronger than the Storm

Stronger than the Storm: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay The man and his boy are bowed over the side of the boat, their faces dark in the shadow of the setting sun. Cast against the light fading behind ageless mountains, they seem to flow formlessly with the sea, and, but for the flash of […]

Selling Stories

Selling Stories: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay Pim is not happy to see her father. The 14-year-old nervously avoids eye contact and her small hands flit about like broken-winged birds. She shifts her weight from one leg to the other, bites her lip, and blows at a strand of hair falling across her forehead. It […]

Winterization Assistance in Syria

ADRA’s Winterization Assistance program provides Syrian internally displaced persons (IDPs) with winter clothes and blankets to stay warm during the brutal Syrian winter. Rita is an elderly woman who never imagined having to leave her home behind at this stage in life. But when violence and unrest in Syria threatened the safety of her and […]

Seeds of Hope

Seeds of Hope: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay There is a moment during every sunset when the world is drained of all ugliness and pain and only colors remain. In that ephemeral space of light and shadow, the world is beautiful. Then the colors fade, the shadows lengthen, and the moment is gone. In Adjumani […]

No One Left

No One Left: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay The festival seems like any other—clowns, balloons, painted faces and broad smiles. There is music and dancing. There are games and activities. There are mothers and children. This little boy is excited to see his mother in prison. Clowns and balloons made the day extra special for […]

Ebola Fight Continues

ADRA decontaminates homes, prevents spread of Ebola, Monday, January 26, 2015 FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE— ADRA Sierra Leone is managing a decontamination center and deploying teams to the homes of Ebola victims to decontaminate exposed surfaces and prevent further spread of the virus. ADRA Sierra Leone has decontaminated more than 988 homes since November 2014. The […]

Jonathan Duffy to interview on BRITE Radio

Monday, January 26, 2015 WASHINGTON, DC.—ADRA International President Jonathan Duffy interviewed today with BRITE Radio host Stacia Wright about ADRA’s work around the world. In the interview with Wright, host of “The Drive,” Duffy spoke about his work at ADRA, his childhood in Australia, and even ADRA’s Spread Love concert with Take 6. Stacia Wright […]

The Roma

The Roma: Behind the Scenes with Sanjay ADRA was lucky to have Sanjay Thomas join our crew and act as our “A Closer Walk” host in the field, experiencing the reality of humanitarian aid work. He shared the following photos and thoughts from his time with ADRA and the Roma community in Albania. Two street […]

Support for Refugees From South Sudan

ADRA works hard to provide refugees with items essential to survival. Whether it is through water and food in drought-prone regions or blankets and tarps in rainy ones, ADRA is there to bring relief. At the age of 10, James went to school for the first time. He was ecstatic. He had no idea that […]

ADRA Liberia to distribute Christmas Packs to Ebola survivors

MONROVIA, LIBERIA – ADRA Liberia is distributing 800 Christmas Packs to Ebola survivors and their families in five counties in Liberia, including Margibi and Montserrado, the two hardest hit by the virus. The Christmas Packs—also called solidarity kits—contain disinfectant, laundry and bath soap, one set of bedding, basic clothing, a mattress and pillow and cooking […]

ADRA on High Alert in Philippines for Typhoon Hagupit 

SILVER SPRING, MD—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) emergency response team (ERT) is on high alert and has prepositioned resources as Typhoon Hagupit, locally known as Ruby, approaches the Philippines. While the Typhoon has lost some strength and was downgraded from Super Typhoon to Typhoon, it seems to be regaining strength. According to the […]

Dr. Jill Biden visits IDPs at Ukraine ADRA Center

KIEV—Dr. Jill Biden spoke to a group of ADRA staff, UN agency representatives, and other partner nongovernmental organizations including USAID at the ADRA center in Ukraine on Friday, November 21. Biden took a tour of the ADRA Center and visited with an ADRA-hosted family who is internally displaced as a result of the conflict in […]

ADRA partners with USAID in Food Security Program to reach 264,380 people

ANTANANARIVO— The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is one of two agencies partnering with USAID in a $75 million food security initiative in Madagascar. The five-year ADRA program titled Asotry* will reduce vulnerability and food insecurity among households and communities in the regions of Amoron’i Mania, Haute Matsiatra, and Atsimo Andrefana. The program will directly […]

Ebola Update: ADRA & GlobalMedic send second shipment to Liberia and Sierra Leone

On October 8, ADRA International, in partnership with GlobalMedic and ADRA Canada, will send containers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Cooper Hospital in Liberia and Waterloo Hospital in Sierra Leone. On October 8, ADRA International, in partnership with GlobalMedic and ADRA Canada, will send containers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Cooper Hospital in […]

ADRA presents response to Ebola at NALAA conference

On September 26, the North America Liberia Adventist Association (NALAA) launched their Fourth Biennial Convention to address the spread of Ebola, to raise money, and to support one another through prayer. “We have come to humble ourselves before God,” said lead speaker Matthew Kamara. “We must reach out in faith.” As pastor of Pilgrims Seventh-day […]

ADRA partners with GlobalMedic & Loma Linda University to respond to Ebola

In March, 2014, an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever started to spread in the forested areas of southeast Guinea. In March, 2014, an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever started to spread in the forested areas of southeast Guinea. Since then, the outbreak has rapidly spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. In August, the World […]

ADRA responds in Nigeria

North-Eastern Nigeria has become increasingly tense and volatile since June 4, 2014, when the fundamentalist group Boko Haram killed nearly 500 people in the state of Borno. Less than a week later the group was suspected of kidnapping 20 young women from the village of Garkin Fulani close to the location of the abduction of […]

ADRA hosts candlelight vigil to commemorate World Refugee Day

This Friday June 20 at 8 p.m. ADRA International will host its “Light the Way Home” candlelight vigil to commemorate the United Nations’ World Refugee Day. The event will take place at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, near the pond and will feature Alison Brook, Christian singer/songwriter. The event is open to the public, […]

International Community Joins forces for South Sudan

Five months of war is South Sudan have resulted in thousands of deaths and displacement of approximately 1.3 million people. The world is watching in horror as the conflict brings the three-year-old country to the brink of the worst food crisis in 25 years. The situation is complex, and mass hunger and starvation threatens the […]

Rebuilding Livelihoods After Typhoon Haiyan

After Typhoon Haiyan, ADRA provided boat repair materials to close to 600 fishermen so that they could get back to work and recover their livelihood. Danilo is a fisherman from Panay Island in the Philippines. Growing up impoverished, he had no chance to get an education and began fishing for a living at 12 years […]

Oklahoma Tornadoes

On the Ground: ADRA International Responds to the Oklahoma Tornado Devastation On Monday, May 20, a tornado raked through parts of Oklahoma with winds that exceeded 200 miles per hour, leaving a trail of destruction about 17 miles long. This has caused the destruction of thousands of properties and has injured hundreds of people. Emergency […]

Congolese Refugees in Rwanda

Rwanda: ADRA Improves Condition of Hygiene in Transit Camp SILVER SPRING, Md. – The political climate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been volatile since the highly disputed presidential elections of November 2011. Since then, Congolese refugees have been seeking shelter in Rwanda, escaping clashes between DRC government forces and armed militia. The […]

Acting President Announcement

ADRA International Announces Acting President Former General Conference Treasurer, Robert L. Rawson, has accepted the role of Acting President until a permanent successor to the post is found. “Elder Rawson is a leader who is widely respected and accomplished with experience at various levels of administrative leadership. We have every confidence in him to lead […]

Leadership Change

ADRA International Board Votes Leadership Change SILVER SPRING, Md.- The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International Board of Directors met June 24 and removed Dr. Rudi Maier as president and executive director of ADRA International with immediate effect, announcing the formation of a search committee to find a replacement. “Making a change in the […]

World No Tobacco Day May 31, 2012

World No Tobacco Day: ADRA Fights to End Tobacco Use SILVER SPRING, Md. – SILVER SPRING, Md. – On May 31 the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in the annual World No Tobacco Day, an initiative created by the WHO to raise awareness of the dangers of […]

Transitioning to a New Life

Uganda: ADRA Responds to Improve the Lives of Congolese Refugees SILVER SPRING, Md. – Following the heated November 2011 presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the battle between government forces and armed militia has been ongoing, causing thousands of Congolese to flee to the neighboring country of Uganda. The Adventist Development and […]

Happy Mother’s Day

Mothers’ Day: ADRA Continues to Support Mothers Around the World SILVER SPRING, Md. – This coming Sunday, millions of men, women, and children around the world will be taking the time to honor their mothers who have sacrificed their time and energy, juggled various roles from nurturer to bedtime storyteller, and have given so much […]

Responding in Peru

Peru: Extreme Weather Patterns Threaten Vulnerable Communities, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is assisting families in Peru’s southeastern region, who have been enduring harsh weather conditions during this year’s first quarter. The region has been severely affected by heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and strong winds, leading to the […]

World Malaria Day April 25, 2012

World Malaria Day: ADRA is Making a Difference SILVER SPRING, Md. – April 25 marks World Malaria Day, a day set aside to commemorate worldwide efforts to control this preventable yet deadly disease. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its work to reduce the numbers of people infected and killed by malaria […]

Giving Hope in Ethiopia

Ethiopia: ADRA Restores Hope to Hopeless Village Article Reprint – Hannah Ndungu works as the Emergency Management Coordinator for the ADRA Africa Regional Office. In this article, Ndungu shares an experience of how ADRA’s work restored hope to one Ethiopian village. SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Kelafo Woreda-Somali Region of Ethiopia, lies a small village […]

Helping Girls in Thailand

Thailand: ADRA Transforms the Lives of Young Girls SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Thailand, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is working to rescue girls from forced prostitution in the sex slave trade. The Agency has opened a shelter that houses at-risk girls from poor families, providing them with nutritious food, education, and most […]

Earth Day April 22, 2012

Earth Day: ADRA Celebrates Commitment to Maintain a Healthy World SILVER SPRING, Md. – April 22 will mark Earth Day 2012, a day set aside each year to remind us of our responsibility to protect the rich resources available on our planet that sustain the lives of the world’s estimated 7 billion inhabitants. The Adventist […]

Community Health in Mongolia

Mongolia: ADRA Improves Access to Education and Health Services for Children with Disabilities SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Mongolia the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping society transform the way they view children with disabilities, and give them access to education and health services. This is being achieved through a project called, Ensuring […]

Drought and Famine in Horn of Africa

Somalia: ADRA Calls on International Community for Continued Support in Wake of Uncertain Future SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Horn of Africa is no stranger to drought, which was most recently demonstrated in 2011 as the region grappled through a deadly famine, and according to the World Food Program affected 13 million people to date. […]

Improving Sanitation in Rwanda

Rwanda: ADRA Donates Latrines to Primary School SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has made the school day far less challenging for Janjagiro Primary School in the Rwamagana District of Rwanda, through providing the school with significantly needed latrines. In total, 14 latrines were constructed, two of which were built […]

Emergency Response in Montenegro

Montenegro: Severe Snowstorms Leave Thousands Stranded, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – Unrelenting snowstorms have overwhelmed the Southeastern European nation of Montenegro, paralyzing traffic and leaving travelers stranded on roadways. Many homes have endured significant snow-related damages, causing thousands to have no access to basic necessities. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding […]

Overcoming Poverty in Nepal

Nepal: ADRA Combats Poverty Through Agro-based Training Program SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is fighting against the effects of poverty in the Kapilvastu, Palpa, and Rupandehi districts of Western Nepal. The local ADRA Nepal office developed this three and a half year project entitled, Develop Local Economy to Eradicate […]

World Water Day, March 22, 2013

World Water Day: ADRA Transforms Communities with the Power of Water SILVER SPRING, Md. – On the 22nd of March, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) joins the world in commemorating World Water Day, and continues to implement projects that make clean water available throughout disadvantaged communities around the world. ADRA recognizes the life-saving […]

Livelihood Support for Families

ADRA Diversifies Household Diets in Somaliland SILVER SPRING, Md. – As a result of drought, Somalia is experiencing a wave of change in the diversity of menus that families are having on their tables. What most Somalis would have easily dismissed as fodder for their livestock is now finding its way comfortably to the dinner […]

Rebuilding Lives in West Africa

Cote d’Ivoire: ADRA Helps Returnees Rebuild Their Lives SILVER SPRING, Md. – Civil war persists in the West African nation of Cote d’Ivoire, causing thousands of families to flee their homes due to dangerous circumstances, or worse, destroyed homes. Many of them have sought refuge deep in the protection of the forest or have escaped […]

Fighting the Freeze in Romania

Romania: As Deep Freeze Covered the Country, ADRA Provided Relief to Stranded Families SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Romania, below freezing temperatures paired with heavy snowfalls have jeopardized the lives of thousands of stranded travellers as well as the country’s homeless population. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA ) Romania office intervened through providing urgently […]

Earthquake in the Philippines

Philippines: Following Deadly Quake, ADRA Provides Relief in the Midst of Chaos SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is distributing emergency rations of food to families in the Philippines rocked by a deadly 6.9 magnitude earthquake. The quake struck moments before noon on February 6, and triggered devastating landslides, causing […]

Flooding in Fiji

Fiji: ADRA Distributes Emergency Rations of Food in Wake of Floods SILVER SPRING, Md. – Heavy rains over the South Pacific island of Fiji triggered extensive flooding during late January, taking the lives of six victims and prompting the government to declare a state of emergency for the Western Divisions of the island. An estimated […]

ADRA Thailand Brings Hope to Refugees

SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Thailand, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is offering vocational training classes to refugees striving to make ends meets. Amongst beneficiaries are Na Aye Yin, her husband Kyite Yee, and her two children who fled from her home country of Myanmar to Unpiem Mai refugee camp in Tak, Thailand. […]

India: Women Lead Community to Control TB

SILVER SPRING, Md. – With an unemployed husband, dominating in-laws, and the hardships of poverty, Gauri Devi’s life had become miserable. The stigma of having leucoderma, a chronic skin disease characterized with white patches of skin, added to her woes. Her plight is not considered uncommon, especially in the eastern Indian state of Bihar where […]

Liberia Welcomes Cote d’Ivoire Refugees

Liberia: ADRA Working with Refugee Populations from Cote d’Ivoire SILVER SPRING, Md. – The eastern region of Grand Gedeh, Liberia has become home to more than 150,000 refugees from neighboring country, Cote d’Ivoire. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to assist some of the neediest of families who have sought refuge in Liberia […]

Cyclone Thane in India

India: Cyclone Thane Strikes, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – The New Year began tragically for the 18,000 people in Cuddalore district and Pondicherry of India, as they remained sheltered in government buildings and schools after cyclone Thane hit the shore with a forceful speed of 77 mph (125 kph) in the pre dawn hours […]

Renewed Hope in Romania

Romania: ADRA Renews Hope Amongst Persons with Disabilities SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Romania, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is bringing a renewed sense of hopefulness and dignity to individuals often neglected and ostracized by others. Through a project focused on assisting persons with disabilities, ADRA has been boosting self-esteem and helping these […]

Tropical Storm Washi

Philippines Update: ADRA Continues to Assist Families Devastated by Tropical Storm Washi SILVER SPRING, Md. – In the Philippines, efforts are still underway to assist an estimated 720,000 individuals affected by damaging tropical storm Washi. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), is continuing their response of distributing food, making safe drinking water more readily […]

Response to Storm in Mexico

Mexico: Tropical Storm Arlene Hits, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – Tropical storm Arlene made landfall on Veracruz, Mexico in the early morning hours of June 30, pouring heavy rains over much of eastern Mexico. Thousands of homes are now submerged under floodwaters and a number of rural communities that endured extensive damage are now […]

Drought in the Horn of Africa

Horn of Africa: ADRA Delivers Food & Water in the Midst of Severe Drought SILVER SPRING, Md. – More than 10 million people in East Africa are in dire need of humanitarian aid as a result of diminishing food sources stemming from the recent rise in food prices and severe drought that has overwhelmed the […]

Helping Ivorian Refugees

Liberia: ADRA Continues to Help Improve the Lives of Ivorian Refugees SILVER SPRING, Md. – Internal conflict stemming from a tumultuous election result between opposing political parties in Cote d’Ivoire has triggered an exodus of Ivorian refugees to seek safety in nearby countries such as Liberia. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to […]

ADRA Combats Cholera Outbreak in Haiti

SILVER SPRING, Md. – In the capital city of Port au Prince, Haiti, recent heavy rains have triggered another cholera outbreak among persons displaced by the earthquake in January 2010. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is combating the spread of this life-threatening disease through a multifaceted response, expecting to benefit approximately 50,000 beneficiaries […]

Training for Myanmar Refugees

Thailand: ADRA Offers Vocational Training to Myanmar Refugees SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is helping improve the quality of life for thousands of Myanmar refugees residing in camps in Thailand along the Thai-Myanmar border. Through vocational training, ADRA is cultivating self-reliance and sustainability within seven refugee communities, helping to […]

ADRA Receives Award

ADRA Receives 2011 American In-house Design Award SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) design team has recently been recognized for outstanding design work by Graphic Design USA, a magazine providing graphic designers and creative professionals with latest news and trends for nearly 50 years. The agency’s design team received six […]

Food for Fire Victims in the Philippines

Philippines: Fire in Manila Engulfs Hundreds of Homes SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been responding to the needs of families forced to flee their homes for safety after an early morning fire broke in the capital city of Manila, Philippines. ADRA implemented a seven-day intervention, providing $5,000 worth […]

Food for Displaced Families

Brazil: ADRA Feeds Families Displaced by Floods SILVER SPRING, Md. – Several days of heavy rains in the Northern state of Roraima, Brazil has led to severe flooding causing the Brazilian Civil Defense to declare a state of emergency in seven cities. More than 355,000 people have been affected by the flood, which has displaced […]

ADRA Aids Nigerians Fleeing Cote d’Ivoire

SILVER SPRING, Md. – Following November 2010’s outbreak of civil war in Cote d’Ivoire, tens of thousands of Nigerians have fled the country, seeking refuge from recent attacks targeted against them. Neighboring francophone countries have turned away the sizable number of Nigerian refugees, forcing thousands of men, women, and children to travel across Ghana, Togo, […]

Enditnow: Rallies Support in Botswana

SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Botswana, government officers, police cadets, representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), pastors, and members of the local community marched through the city of Gaborone showing support for enditnow™, a worldwide campaign advocating for the end of violence against women and girls led by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and […]

Japan Earthquake Update

Japan: ADRA Continues to Respond to Appeals for Aid SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to provide humanitarian assistance to victims affected by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11. Currently ADRA Japan has provided more than 750 meals over the period […]

Community Change in Rwanda

ADRA Promotes Positive Community Change in Rwanda SILVER SPRING, Md. – In Rwanda, several communities are now taking action to improve tolerance and advocate the need for change over issues once seen as insignificant. This heightened state of awareness comes as a result of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency’s (ADRA) efforts in community training […]

Best Practice Award for ADRA

ADRA Receives Best Practice Award for Women Empowerment Project SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been awarded the Best Practices & Innovations (BPI) Award for Improving Livelihoods through Women Empowerment by InterAction, the largest U.S.-based alliance of international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). During the May 4 ceremony, ADRA was recognized […]

Earth Day April 22, 2011

Earth Day: ADRA Promotes Green Farming SILVER SPRING, Md. – On April 22, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) will be commemorating the worldwide environmental movement, Earth Day. This year more 1 billion participants are expected to participate in the 41st anniversary of the campaign in more than 192 countries. This year’s theme of […]

Support for Yemen

Yemen: ADRA Granted Award for Emergency Support SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been awarded nearly $900,000 by the United States of Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to continue assisting displaced persons through ADRA’s Yemen Emergency Support (YES) Project. The additional funding comes […]

Malaria Day April 25, 2011

Malaria Day: ADRA Recommits to Eliminate Disease SILVER SPRING, Md. – On April 25, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is renews its commitment to the fight against malaria in support of World Malaria Day, a date set aside to advocate the global movement for the elimination of malaria. “We believe the fight against […]

ADRA President Outlines Agency’s Future

SILVER SPRING, Md. – “The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International must adapt to the changing development requirements to remain a leader in the humanitarian community and continue to be a vital voice of compassion for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It has to develop and implement conceptually sound and innovative strategies to position itself […]

Response to Landslides in Brazil

Heavy Rains in Southern Brazil Trigger Landslides, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – In late March, heavy rainstorms over southern Brazil led to flooding, triggering destructive landslides carrying fallen trees, rocks and other debris through several cities, destroying the homes of thousands now left with little or nothing. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) […]

Response to Crisis in Libya

ADRA Aids Refugees Affected by the Libyan Crisis SILVER SPRING, Md. As the political crisis in Libya continues to escalate, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) remains committed to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by the ongoing turmoil. ADRA has been on the ground since early March distributing provisions of potable water, inspecting […]

Recent Changes at ADRA International

ADRA International Board Reviews Recent Changes SILVER SPRING, Md. – At the regularly scheduled spring meeting, The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International Board of Directors on April 6 reviewed the recent reduction in employees (Reduction in Force) and positional realignment that took place on February 22 at the agency’s international office. After much […]

ADRA Celebrates World Water Day

SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) commemorates World Water Day on March 22, a day devoted to further clean-water initiatives worldwide. Stemming from a recommendation by the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), World Water Day seeks to focus on the importance of clean, drinkable water and promotes […]

Flooding in Namibia

Namibia Braces for Worst Floods in History: ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – A dangerous combination of heavy rains and overflows from the Kavango and Zambezi Rivers are threatening tens of thousands of people in Namibia to flee their homes. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding, proving emergency supplies to people who […]

Response to Landslides in Bolivia

Bolivia: Towns Destroyed in Seconds by Landslides, ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – Weeks of heavy rains triggered massive landslides, destroying hundreds of homes in the capital city of La Paz, Bolivia. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is on the ground, distributing emergency supplies to families now homeless. ADRA’s response is targeting the […]

Japan Response Update

Japan Response Update: ADRA Begins Aid for Evacuees SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues its response following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011. Through ongoing coordination efforts with local governmental authorities, ADRA has been appointed to support an evacuation enter in Wakabayashi ward […]

Japan Earthquake Response

Japan: ADRA Continues Response in Tsunami Affected Region SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) continues to respond to the devastating tsunami that was triggered by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that shook Japan on Friday, March 11. Assessment teams reached the severely affected city of Sendai in the Miyagi Prefecture within […]

Record Earthquake Strikes Japan: ADRA Responds

Record Earthquake Strikes Japan: ADRA Responds SILVER SPRING, Md. – A powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook the island nation of Japan damaging infrastructure and triggering a massive tsunami that swept through Japan’s north-eastern coast, killing hundreds of people according to initial media reports. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is responding, coordinating efforts and assessing […]

Help for Disabled Children

Zimbabwe: Disabled Children ‘Looked Down On’, ADRA to Provide Support SILVER SPRING, Md. – “My baby was born normal, but at eleven months she started getting ill,” says Pauline Moyo, 34, of her nine-year-old daughter Michelle who began having an inexplicable high fever. Concerned for her child, Pauline brought her to a local hospital in […]

Support for Students in El Salvador

ADRA Delivers School Supplies to Children in El Salvador SILVER SPRING, Md. – As the new school year got underway across El Salvador recently, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) delivered school supplies to 150 vulnerable children in various schools across the country. The project, funded by ADRA’s popular Really Useful Gift Catalog, benefited […]

Relief for Drought in Somalia

Somalia: Drought Prompts ADRA to Distribute Water to Affected Communities SILVER SPRING, Md. – As drought threatens millions of Somalis and their livestock once more, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is delivering water to vulnerable villages in the northeastern Puntland state, the agency reports. ADRA’s two-month water trucking intervention will provide safe drinking […]

Relief for Cambodians

ADRA Drills Wells to Assist Displaced Cambodians SILVER SPRING, Md. – More than 30,000 people have fled their homes following renewed violent clashes in a disputed area between Cambodia and Thailand, prompting the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to begin well drilling operations in an effort to provide clean drinking water to thousands of […]

Response to Flooding in South Africa

Heavy Flooding Prompts ADRA Response in South Africa SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is providing relief assistance in South Africa where widespread storms and floods have affected eight of the country’s nine provinces, leaving more than 80 people dead and injuring 375 others. ADRA’s operation aims to reduce the […]

Rebuilding in Haiti

ADRA Relocates Displaced Haitians Living on Dangerous Road Median SILVER SPRING, Md. – Hundreds of people who had been living in precarious makeshift shacks in the middle of a busy Port-au-Prince road since last year’s deadly Haiti earthquake are now staying in safe new shelters provided by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the […]

Food Security for South Sudan

ADRA Providing Increased Support to Vulnerable Areas in Southern Sudan SILVER SPRING, Md. – As the results of a historic referendum in Southern Sudan were announced on January 31 effectively declaring independence from the north after decades of hostilities, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing the implementation of a multi-year project to […]

OFDA Grant Awarded

Brazil: New Grant Aids in Relief Efforts for Mudslide Victims SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has been awarded a $135,000 grant by the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) to continue assisting persons affected by the recent devastating mudslides in Brazil. The grant will further ADRA’s current work of […]

Food Aid to the Displaced

Côte d’Ivoire: ADRA Assisting Families Displaced by Post-Election Violence SILVER SPRING, Md. – The recent post-election violence in the West African nation of Côte d’Ivoire, which has left more than 250 dead and forced thousands to flee their homes to escape the political crisis and inter-ethnic clashes, has prompted the Adventist Development and Relief Agency […]

Response to Flooding in Australia

Australia: ADRA Responds to Severe Flooding in Queensland SILVER SPRING, Md. – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia has committed AUD$100,000 towards relief efforts in response to the disastrous floods, which have turned approximately three fourths of the northeastern state of Queensland into a disaster zone. In response to the devastating flooding, which […]

Flooding in Brazil

ADRA Delivering Aid to Survivors of Brazil’s Worst Flooding SILVER SPRING, Md. – Following extensive flooding that has so far left more than 700 people dead in Brazil’s mountainous state of Rio de Janeiro, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is delivering relief aid to survivors in some of the worst hit areas. To […]

ADRA Report: Haiti One Year Later

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Exactly one year has passed since the devastating earthquake struck the island nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has provided more than USD$4 million in aid, personnel and assets to assist Haitian survivors in the months since the earthquake. Through out the twelve […]

ADRA Continues Aid to Serbian Earthquake Survivors

ADRA Continues Aid to Serbian Earthquake Survivors SILVER SPRING, Md.- The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is continuing its response following an earthquake that shook the city of Kraljevo, Serbia. The violent quake significantly damaged hundreds of buildings and houses, displacing thousands of families and injuring more than 500 people. Through this intervention, ADRA […]