Emergency

Description

Emergency is an independent, neutral Italian humanitarian association that provides free, high quality medical and surgical care to victims of war, landmines and poverty.

Founded in 1994, it builds and runs hospitals, surgical centres, health centres, first aid posts, maternity and paediatric clinics, mainly in countries affected by conflict or extreme poverty. International specialist staff design and manage these facilities while training local personnel until they can run them independently. Alongside medical work, the organization promotes a culture of peace, solidarity and respect for human rights, and campaigns for the abolition of war.

Emergency operates in several countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Uganda and Italy, and has also run search and rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean. In Italy it works with migrants, refugees and disadvantaged people through outpatient clinics and mobile units, and carries out advocacy that helped lead to the country’s ban on landmines. It is a recognised non-profit organization and holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and partner status with the UN Department of Public Information.

Its work is funded mainly by individual donors, foundations and volunteers, most of its income going directly to its hospitals and its peace-culture activities.