Mercy Corps Programs
Children and Youth
Children are remarkably imaginative and resilient — but also heartbreakingly fragile and vulnerable. Mercy Corps works with communities to shelter and nurture children through innovative education, health and nutrition programs. Teaching the next generation and keeping them healthy are essential to tomorrow's strong, vibrant societies.
Conflict and War
War tears at every fiber of society, but conflict doesn't have to be violent to harm communities. Mercy Corps works to not only help families rebuild after the destruction of war, but also manage friction points and find solutions so shots are never fired.
Emergencies and Disaster Risk Reduction
Life can change for millions of families in an instant: natural disasters can take loved ones and the outbreak of war drive families from their homes. When the unthinkable happens, Mercy Corps delivers rapid, lifesaving aid to hard-hit communities. Disaster Risk Reduction is an approach that helps countries and communities identify, assess and reduce the risks of disasters.
Recent Successes and Current Challenges
Current Needs and Successes: Syria Refugee Crisis
More than half a million Syrians have fled the entrenched civil war in their country for the relative safety of neighbors like Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq. The flow of refugees into camps and host communities continues to swell — far beyond initial expectations — and strain limited resources in the region.
Mercy Corps is responding to refugees' immediate needs:
- Emergency needs: Helping families survive the harsh winter in Jordan and Lebanon with warm clothing, blankets and gas heaters. We're also improving shelters to withstand the freezing temperatures.
- Water: Digging wells to distribute water throughout Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp and renovating municipal water systems to support host communities long-term.
- Children: Providing school supplies and building playgrounds and safe spaces for children to play at camps in Jordan. We're also leading support programs in Lebanon to help kids through trauma.