What we do | UNHCR Emergency Response

What we do

The Emergency Response Team (ERTeam) is a dedicated, highly trained group of UNHCR staff who provide a fast and effective response to any crisis, anywhere in the world. The team works in the toughest conditions, delivering life-saving essentials like food, water, shelter and healthcare.

When people have fled their homes and are destitute and hungry they need help – fast. Within 72 hours, or even sooner, our planes are loaded with vital supplies from one of our many warehouses and the ERTeam are flown in with expertise that can save countless refugee lives.

MEET OUR TEAM

Maeve Murphy

"I work as a Community Services Officer, visiting camps and villages to find out about the problems people face, working with partner agencies to improve basic facilities and making sure our programmes are targeting those most in need."

Juliet Mwebesa

Juliet Mwebesa is a Water and Sanitation Specialist with UNHCR. Since early 2008, she has been overseeing a major water infrastructure project in the sprawling Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda.

Dina Sinigallia

"Late one afternoon, a rumour started when a young girl saw a hunter while fetching water. She mistook him for an LRA soldier and started running. As she ran, she passed a market and alerted everyone"

Geoff Wordley

"I am working at a reception centre in a little town called Liboi about 17 km from the Somali border. UNHCR is wholly responsible for running this reception centre. There are other organisations operating in the Dadaab camps but UNHCR does everything here..."