International Aid Programs Active in Sub-Saharan Africa
Action Against Hunger/USA
247 West 37th Street
Suite 1201
New York, NY 10018
(212) 967-7800
www.actionagainsthunger.org
Action Against Hunger/USA is one of five Action Against Hunger organizations. Founded in France in 1979 to help eliminate hunger, especially during events such as conflicts, wars, and natural disasters, Action Against Hunger administers programs that focus on nutrition, food security, water and sanitation, and health issues in conjunction with local and national programs. Action Against Hunger/USA began operations in 1985. Spain, Canada, and the United Kingdom make up the remaining Action Against Hunger organizations.
CARE
151 Ellis Street NE
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 681-2552
www.care.org
Founded in 1945 to provide help to World War II survivors, CARE has since become one of the world's largest private relief organizations. Its mission is to fight global poverty by focusing efforts on the world's poor, with a special emphasis on women. Efforts are focused on basic education, health concerns such as HIV, clean water and sanitation, economic development, and protection of natural resources. CARE also provides emergency aid to survivors of natural disasters and human conflicts.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
1600 Clifton Rd.
Atlanta, GA 30333
404-639-3534
800-311-3435
www.cdc.gov
The CDC, founded in 1946, is a U.S. government organization under the Department of Health and Human Services. CDC's goals are to achieve and protect health through preventing and controlling disease, providing reliable health information, conducting research, and detecting and investigating health issues worldwide.
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)
333 7th Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10001-5004
(212) 679-6800
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
Founded in 1971, MSF doctors, nurses, and other medical and non-medical staff are frequently the first to arrive after disaster strikes. MSF personnel, working with locally hired staff, provides emergency and essential health care, including surgery and mental health care; rehabilitates and manages hospitals and clinics; and provides vaccinations, food, and clean water. The nonprofit, private organization also runs various infectious disease programs and monitors, diagnoses, and controls disease outbreaks. Additionally MSF acts as an advocate for victims by speaking out about their plight and working for change. In 2007 MSF staff was involved in more than 4,700 aid assignments.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
P.O. Box 372
CH-1211 Geneva 19
Switzerland
Telephone: +41 22 730 42 22
Fax: +41 22 733 03 95
www.ifrc.org
New York Delegation to the UN
International Federation
800 Second Avenue
Suite 355, 3rd floor
New York, NY 10017
USA
Telephone: (212) 338 0161
Fax: (212) 338 9832
The world's largest humanitarian organization, typically known as the Red Cross in the U.S., seeks to assist all residents of the world by providing emergency preparedness and assistance in situations such as war or natural disasters, and health care in every community of the world. The first Red Cross organization was founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland with the purpose of providing medical aid and other assistance to wounded soldiers. Other Red Cross organizations followed. In 1919, just after World War II, the international organization uniting all Red Cross societies was born. Since its early days the mission of the Red Cross has expanded from providing aid to military wounded to providing aid to victims of natural disasters, health emergencies, and other events and circumstances.
International Medical Corps
1919 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suite 300
Santa Monica, CA 90404
800-481-4462
www.imcworldwide.org
Established in 1984 by volunteer medical personnel, International Medical Corps (IMC) is a nonpolitical, nonsectarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to heath issues through education and training, medical assistance, and relief programs. One of the first international aid organizations created to train local personnel to administer aid, IMC is active in more than 40 areas on four continents, including Sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
PO Box 5058
Hagerstown, MD 21741-9874
877-REFUGEE or 733-8433
www.theIRC.org
Founded in 1933 to provide refugee assistance to victims of Hitler, Mussolini, and Franco on the eve of World War II, the International Rescue Committee now provides medical and health relief to victims of conflict and war and natural and other disasters. Active in 25 countries, the IRC's emphasis is on primary, reproductive, environmental, and child health. IRC personnel works in refugee camps, disaster areas, and host countries where refugees are gathered.
Merlin
12th floor, 1207 Old Street
London EC1V9NR
England
+44(0) 20 7014 1600
www.merlin.org.uk
A United Kingdom charity, Merlin specializes in providing health care and medical aid worldwide for victims of natural disasters, conflicts and wars, and epidemics. Since its founding in 1993, Merlin has provided medical and other health assistance in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Russia, Honduras, Tajikistan, India, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Liberia, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia.
Peace Corps
1111 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20526
800-424-8580
www.peacecorps.gov
Begun in 1961, the Peace Corps government organization that uses volunteers to provide assistance worldwide. Since its creation, more than 187,000 volunteers have worked in 139 countries, providing assistance related to education, community development, and conservation. Nearly 8,000 volunteers are currently active in 73 countries.
Save the Children
54 Wilton Road
Westport, CT 06880
1-800-728-3843
www.savethechildren.org
Save the Children is an international organization working in 110 countries to support the health of children. Begun in 1932, this international relief and development organization focuses on developing strategies so that the community programs can become self-sustaining. Save the Children is active in 50 countries, including sub-Saharan Africa.
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
United States Fund for UNICEF 333 East 38th Street
(Mail Code: GC-6)
New York, New York 10016
(212) 686-5522
www.unicef.org
Working in 191 countries, UNICEF promotes the care of the world's children through programs focusing on child survival and development, HIV/AIDS education and treatment, child protection, gender equality, education, immunizations, preventive health care, sanitation, and policy advocacy.
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue. NW
Washington, D.C. 20523
(202) 712-4810
www.usaid.gov
USAID is an independent governmental agency that provides assistance around the world in matters of economic development, global health, and humanitarian assistance. Begun in the period just after World War II, and the reconstruction of Europe, USAID is active worldwide. Activities in Africa are focused on education; health services, including AIDS/HIV prevention; agricultural development; conflict resolution; conservation; and promoting trade and investment.
World Heath Organization (WHO)
Avenue Appia 20
CH - 1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
+41 22 791 2111
http://www.who.int/en/
The World Health Organization, founded in 1948, is the coordinating authority for global health within the United Nations, employing more than 8,000 people from over 150 countries. All global health matters, including strengthening health systems; monitoring health trends, including disease outbreaks; and providing technical support to countries fall under the parameters of this organization.
Source: WiseTo Social Issues Digest. Copyright © 2007 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
