Devastating 6.0 Magnitude Earthquake in Eastern Afghanistan

Assessment Date: 5 September 2025
Location: Epicentre and Surrounding Villages, Nangarhar Province

On the night of 31 August 2025, a powerful 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck north-eastern Afghanistan. The epicentre, located 27 kilometres northeast of Jalalabad City, caused widespread destruction across the region.

The humanitarian impact has been catastrophic:

• Over 2,000 lives lost
• More than 3,500 people injured
• Nearly 6,800 homes destroyed
• Approximately 497,000 people affected, including 263,000 children

Relief operations remain extremely difficult, with blocked roads, rough terrain, and limited communications hampering access to many of the worst-hit areas.

In the face of overwhelming challenges, Afghan communities have shown extraordinary solidarity. Local volunteers quickly mobilised, pooling their resources to transport the wounded, clear debris, and deliver emergency supplies. This grassroots response reflects the resilience of the Afghan people. Yet it also underscores the urgent need for structured, technical support to ensure recovery is safe, sustainable, and future-proof.

RedR’s Engineering Response: Building Local Capacity for Safer Recovery

In early September, Dr Noor Kuchai, RedR’s Senior Coordinator in Humanitarian Engineering, conducted a field assessment in the epicentre and surrounding villages. His visit identified critical gaps where RedR’s expertise could provide life-saving and long-term value:

1. Damage Assessment Training – Delivering tailored training for local engineers and Afghan NGO staff on how to conduct safe, effective damage assessments, preventing further loss of life and guiding appropriate shelter interventions.
2. Earthquake-Resilient Shelter Design – Collaborating with communities and experts to develop culturally appropriate, earthquake-resilient shelter designs using locally available materials such as stone and timber.
3. Retrofitting and Repair Guidelines – Providing practical guidance and training for local responders on safe repair techniques that would have sector wide applicability. Many homes can be salvaged through retrofitting, reducing the need for full reconstruction, and preserving community heritage.

This Learning Audit & Needs Assessment identifies capacity gaps and learning needs amongst Vodokanal (Water Utilities staff in Ukraine.

Understanding these gaps is essential for developing targeted training programmes, that can enhance the skills and knowledge required to address the complex challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. 

The LNA also assessed the existing strengths among vodokanal staff, so RedR can recommend the best ways that partners can leverage best these capabilities. 

Using the findings to train responders on the most urgent topics

RedR conducted this in-depth and detailed Learning Needs Assessment to better inform the ongoing capacity strengthening program for Ukraine’s water utilities (vodokanals). The overarching questions that this Learning Needs Assessment seeks to assess are:

• What are the current capacity gaps and learning needs among vodokanal personnel in Ukraine?
• What are the capacity strengths among vodokanal personnel involved in water supply and sewage services?
• How can RedR UK respond to the needs of the vodokanals in ways that are most appropriate and relevant?
• What are the capacity needs for future programming of RedR and other partners?

It enables RedR to tailor their response to the evolving needs of the vodokanals in Ukraine. By understanding the specific learning needs and capacity gaps, RedR can provide training that is most relevant and impactful, thereby enhancing the overall WASH service delivery in Ukraine.

Key findings

The main findings of this learning needs assessment are:

• Demographics of Respondents: A total of 70 responses were received, with 69 from the target learner groups (Senior Management, Engineers, Operators). The majority of senior managers (51%) and engineers (eighteen) have worked at the vodokanal for more than five years. Operators also largely have over five years of experience (six out of eight respondents). Respondents are located across 17 oblasts, with 41 responses from UNICEF’s priority oblasts
• Training Topic Priorities: Respondents identified several priority training topics essential for improving their response capabilities:
  • Operators: Highest priority topics identified by operators, engineers, and senior managers are Modern Water Treatment and Supply Systems and Energy Efficiency and Power Optimization. High priority topics include Modern Wastewater Treatment and Discharge Management, Water Quality – Measurement and EU Standards, and Leak Detection.
  • Engineers: Highest priority topics identified by engineers, senior managers, and operators are Modern Water Treatment and Supply Systems, Modern Wastewater Treatment and Discharge Management, and Energy Efficiency and Power Optimization
  • Senior Managers: Highest priority topics identified by senior managers, engineers, and operators are EU Standards and Best Practice, Policy and Management, and Investment Planning.

يحدد هذا التقرير الموجز لتقييم احتياجات التعلم وتقييم قدرات المنظمات الوطنية الثغرات في القدرات واحتياجات التعلم بين المستجيبين الأفراد والمنظمات المشاركة في الاستجابة للأزمة في لبنان

إن فهم هذه الثغرات أمر ضروري لتطوير برامج تدريب مستهدفة، يمكن أن تعزز المهارات والمعارف المطلوبة لمواجهة التحديات المعقدة التي فرضتها الأزمة

كما قام تقييم احتياجات التعلم بتقييم نقاط القوة الموجودة لدى المستجيبين، بحيث يمكن لريدر أن توصي بأفضل الطرق التي يمكن للشركاء في المجال الإنساني الاستفادة من هذه القدرات على أفضل وجه

استخدام النتائج لتدريب المستجيبين على الموضوعات الأكثر إلحاحًا

أجرت ريدر تقييمًا متعمقًا ومفصلاً لاحتياجات التعلم من أجل تحسين استجابة التدريب المستمر للأزمة في لبنان. الأسئلة الشاملة التي يسعى تقييم احتياجات التعلم إلى تقييمها هي:

ما هي الفجوات الحالية في القدرات واحتياجات التعلم بين المستجيبين الإنسانيين للاستجابة الجارية في لبنان؟

ما هي نقاط القوة في قدرات المستجيبين المشاركين في جهود الاستجابة الإنسانية؟

كيف يمكن للشركاء الإنسانيين الاستفادة من هذه النقاط القوية على أفضل وجه؟

كيف يمكن لـ RedR UK الاستجابة لاحتياجات الاستجابة بالطرق الأكثر ملاءمة وملاءمة؟

ما هي احتياجات القدرات لبرامج RedR والشركاء الآخرين في المستقبل؟

وهي تمكّن RedR من تكييف استجابتها مع الاحتياجات المتغيرة للأزمة. ومن خلال فهم الاحتياجات التعليمية المحددة والثغرات في القدرات، يمكن لـ RedR توفير التدريب الأكثر ملاءمة وتأثيراً، وبالتالي تعزيز الاستجابة الشاملة في لبنان.

النتائج الرئيسية

النتائج الرئيسية لتقييم احتياجات التعلم هي:

الاحتياجات الخاصة: هناك حاجة ملحة للتدريب في مجال خدمات الصحة العقلية بسبب الأثر النفسي للنزاعات الأخيرة. كما أن التدريب على إدارة الملاجئ الجماعية أمر بالغ الأهمية، نظراً لتدفق النازحين إلى الملاجئ المؤقتة. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، يعد التدريب على إدارة السلامة أمراً حيوياً، حيث يواجه العاملون في مجال الإغاثة مخاطر كبيرة.الإدارة المالية

التركيبة السكانية للمستجيبين: غالبية المستجيبين (86٪) مقيمون في لبنان، مع تمثيل كبير للنساء (71٪). يتمتع معظم المستجيبين بخبرة كبيرة في القطاع الإنساني، حيث يتمتع 63٪ منهم بخبرة تزيد عن خمس سنوات.

أولويات مواضيع التدريب: حدد المستجيبون عدة مواضيع تدريبية ذات أولوية ضرورية لتحسين قدراتهم على الاستجابة:

تطوير استجابة شاملة لحالات الطوارئ

خدمات الصحة العقلية والدعم النفسي

إدارة الملاجئ الجماعية

إدارة السلامة والأمن

كتابة المقترحات

جمع البيانات وحمايتها وتحليلها

Dr. Noorullah Kuchai

RedR UK’s Senior Programmes Coordinator, Dr. Noorullah Kuchai, spoke about RedR’s impact and mission at our recent Annual Reception. Focusing on RedR’s work in Ukraine, Dr. Kuchai shared moving examples of how we are equipping local responders with the tools and knowledge to lead recovery efforts on their own terms. His remarks highlighted the urgent need for locally led responses and the importance of shifting power to those closest to the crisis Read his full speech below.

The world is facing an era of compounding crises. The demand for humanitarian assistance is escalating, while resources are shrinking. In this landscape, the effectiveness of the response is not just important – it is vital. And this is where RedR’s work truly matters. Tonight, I’d like to share with you two specific examples of how we put our mission into action through our response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. 

Nearly 3 years ago, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine leading to a devastating impact on Ukrainians causing massive civilian casualties and the destruction of infrastructure. Resulting in millions being in need of humanitarian assistance – including more than 2 million children. 

Within just two months, RedR responded by designing and delivering 27 training sessions to 360 humanitarian responders. We then continued to expand our reach, ultimately training more than 6,000 Ukrainians. These were individuals supporting communities under extraordinary pressure. 

Our trainings equipped them with tools & skills to respond more effectively, covering topics such as humanitarian principles, blast-induced damage assessment, repair methods, retrofitting technologies and more. 

We trained local people, so the knowledge stays there.  

We hired and mentored local Ukrainian trainers. We delivered trainings and produced resources in Ukrainian. And we rooted the training contents in the reality of the situation in Ukraine, drawing on local case studies and Ukrainian building standards to make our trainings relevant and immediately applicable in the field. And this local capacity strengthening is hugely important. 

Recently the Mayor of Mykolaiv has communicated with us that “capacity strengthening” is one of their key needs. We have grouped up with our industry engineering partners in the UK and the Engineering Without Borders to train local professionals to support the safe return of displaced communities. 

In response to the acute shortage of qualified experts – damage assessors – we will train Ukrainian engineers and university lecturers. These lecturers will then train future generation engineers, thereby enhancing long-term in-country capacity. 

In one example shared by Engineers Without Borders, 750 children were not able to go to school because there was not enough capacity to determine whether their school building, which had been partially damaged by a missile strike, was safe to use or not. So, its not only the immediate impact of the destruction being caused, but the longer-term impact on the entire community which is also affected. In this way, our training on damage assessment unlock the capacity of more professionals to carry out “safe-building entry checks”, and in this case, hopefully to get those 750 children back into school. 

This initiative addresses critical societal challenges caused by war, including widespread displacement and infrastructure damage that compromise safety, health, and dignity. By equipping engineers and educators with essential skills, the project supports recovery efforts and promotes the reconstruction of built infrastructure. 

Our training strengthen the quality of the humanitarian response. It enhances local ownership. And ultimately, it saves lives. 

And crucially, we could not have done any of this alone. 

The speed and scale of our Ukraine response—and our ongoing work in conflict and climate-affected areas—has been driven by RedR’s core mission: uniting diverse expertise across humanitarian and private sectors to empower and train local responders for more effective, locally led humanitarian action in an increasingly complex world. 

That is why this work matters. And that is why your continued support matters.  

Read our strategy here. 

Bernadette Sexton

To mark RedR’s 45th anniversary, CEO Bernadette Sexton delivered a speech at our recent Annual Reception, reflecting on the organisation’s evolution and continued relevance in today’s humanitarian landscape. She addressed the growing global need for assistance, the challenges posed by shrinking funding, and the vital role of RedR’s locally led approach and partnerships in delivering lasting impact. Read the full speech below.

When we developed the strategy last year, we engaged with many stakeholders to determine how best we could deliver our mission: to develop the capacity of aid workers and organisations to respond to humanitarian needs and mitigate the impact of crises on the most vulnerable people.

Our mission remains sadly relevant because the demand for humanitarian assistance has never been higher. 1 in 22 people worldwide require humanitarian assistance.

This need is informed by escalating natural disasters, protracted conflicts, and deepening social inequities. At the same time, we are observing extreme weather events, with 2024 being the hottest year on record. So, the need has never been greater.

In this context, RedR’s impact is clear: we strengthen local responders to improve delivery, reduce waste, and contribute to a more effective humanitarian system.

That was in 2024. Since then, at the start of 2025, there have been significant cuts to humanitarian funding globally. This presents an existential challenge for the humanitarian sector as the sector considers how to fundamentally rethink how we create global impact.

In this landscape, RedR’s locally led approach has become even more acutely necessary.

Through our training and technical assistance, we gain localised insight regarding the immediate challenges being faced in disaster situations, allowing us to inform improvements through convening and sharing at the sectoral level.

That’s where our partnerships come to the fore. Whilst we are a small core team, our reach is wide.

We hosted our strategy launch at the offices of Arup, one of our longstanding partners. It’s just one visual example of how we engage within an ecosystem of partners where values align and where we benefit from synergies.

Those partnerships allow us to extend and amplify our impact.

What does this look like in practice? It includes:

1. Developing standards for camp management to support the flow of refugees and internally displaced populations in Nigeria and Ukraine
2. Designing resources to support responders to conflict related sexual violence in several languages including Burmese, French, Ukrainian, and English
3. Building climate resilience in drought and conflict vulnerable contexts in Somalia and Afghanistan
4. Training local NGOs delivering nutrition in emergencies in Mali to address extreme hunger
5. Delivering engineering in emergencies services in response to earthquakes and floods in Morocco, Libya, Turkey and Syria
6. Supporting global commitments to provide clean water, and improved sanitation and hygiene systems through the WASH roadmap.
7. Conducting blast damage assessments to allow safe return to homes; and supporting reform and repair of the water utilities in Ukraine.

RedR’s work is only possible through this ecosystem.

We have relied on your training and technical expertise that allows us to deliver our work to a high standard.

We have tapped into your networks that have connected us to key stakeholders to ensure a contextualised approach that builds on best practice.

We have benefited from your funding as individuals, as trusts and foundations, and as companies that has allowed us to deliver this work.

This year marks the 45^th anniversary of RedR. Our founder Peter Guthrie remains an enthusiastic supporter.  Anytime, I meet up with Peter, I come away from that discussion with a renewed sense of urgency from one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever met and a sense of how RedR has evolved to continue to be relevant and make a difference.

RedR was established in 1980. Since 1988 Her Royal Highness has been our President and has remained steadfast in her support of RedR, and has displayed an active interest in our work.

What we see in our work in crisis-affected areas – is that investing in people, knowledge and skills creates a ripple effect that has long lasting impact.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Read our strategy here. 

RedR UK Celebrates Achievements and Launches Strategy with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal

On Wednesday 7^th May 2025, humanitarian NGO RedR held its Annual Reception, hosted by its long-standing partner Arup, at its Charlotte Street offices. The event brought together RedR’s diverse community of staff, partners, and supporters from across engineering and humanitarian sectors to celebrate the organisation’s achievements and reaffirm its continued commitment to driving impact through its strategic priorities amidst emerging global challenges.

RedR’s President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, was in attendance and emphasised the importance of working with local responders to strengthen existing humanitarian capacities.

Over the course of the evening, attendees had the opportunity to network and listen to inspiring speeches from RedR’s CEO Bernadette Sexton, RedR’s Senior Technical Programmes Coordinator Dr. Noorullah Kuchai, and Her Royal Highness, who has been President of RedR since 1988. Their remarks echoed the organisation’s strategic direction, prioritising localisation, climate resilience, and strengthening the skills of those on the frontlines of crisis response.

The evening also marked the launch of RedR’s 2025-2027 Strategy, which builds on the organisation’s roots in humanitarian engineering, and reinforces its broader commitment to strengthening local and international response capacity through training programmes, technical assistance, and convening.

This strategy comes at a vital time, as the humanitarian sector faces unprecedented funding shortfalls amid rising global need and instability. RedR’s work to equip local responders with the skills and support they need is more critical than ever. By strengthening local leadership and knowledge, RedR helps make humanitarian response more sustainable, efficient, and equitable.

Bernadette Sexton, CEO of RedR said: “At a time when humanitarian funding cannot match the unprecedented demand, efficiency is crucial. Learning and development transforms the ability of humanitarians to efficiently deliver lifesaving aid to those that need it most. This is at the heart of RedR’s strategy to equip local agencies and communities with the knowledge and skills to prepare, respond and rebuild in the face of disasters.”

If you’d like to give financially to support projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

يحدد هذا التقرير الموجز لتقييم احتياجات التعلم وتقييم قدرات المنظمات الوطنية الثغرات في القدرات واحتياجات التعلم بين المستجيبين الأفراد والمنظمات المشاركة في الاستجابة للأزمة في السودان

إن فهم هذه الثغرات أمر ضروري لتطوير برامج تدريب مستهدفة، يمكن أن تعزز المهارات والمعارف المطلوبة لمواجهة التحديات المعقدة التي يفرضها النزاع

كما قام تقييم احتياجات التعلم وتقييم قدرات المنظمات الوطنية بتقييم نقاط القوة الموجودة لدى المستجيبين، بحيث يمكن لكل من ريدر أن توصي بأفضل الطرق التي يمكن للشركاء في المجال الإنساني الاستفادة من هذه القدرات على أفضل وجه

استخدام النتائج لتدريب المستجيبين للكوارث على الموضوعات الأكثر إلحاحاًالتأكد من صحتها.

خلفية: يعاني السودان من واحدة من أشد الأزمات الإنسانية في التاريخ الحديث بسبب الصراعات الطويلة وعدم الاستقرار السياسي والانهيار الاقتصادي والكوارث الطبيعية.  أدى الصراع بين القوات المسلحة السودانية (SAF) وقوات الدعم السريع (RSF)، الذي تصاعد في أبريل 2023، أدى إلى انتشار العنف والنزوح على نطاق واسع، مما أدى إلى إرباك قدرات الاستجابة الوطنية.  

تم إجراء تقييم احتياجات التعلم وتقييم قدرات المنظمات الوطنية من قبل منظمة RedR UK والأكاديمية الإنسانية للتنمية لتحديد الثغرات المعرفية وأوجه القصور في المهارات ومتطلبات تعزيز القدرات لدى العاملين في المجال الإنساني والمنظمات الوطنية في السودان. وكان الهدف من هذا الجهد المشترك هو إثراء تصميم برامج التدريب والتوجيه المستهدفة لتعزيز فعالية العمليات الإنسانية. ورغم أن التقييمات أجريت مع مجموعة محددة من 22 منظمة غير حكومية وطنية و76 مستجيبا فرديا، فإن الاتجاهات التي تم تحديدها في أولويات التعلم والتحديات التنظيمية واحتياجات تعزيز القدرات ذات صلة وثيقة بالمنظمات غير الحكومية الوطنية “الناشئة” و”المتوسعة” والجهات الفاعلة الإنسانية العاملة في السودان. 

المنهجية: استخدمت التقييمات نهجًا منظمًا يجمع بين أساليب جمع البيانات الكمية الأولية (الاستطلاعات الإلكترونية) والنوعية الأولية (مقابلات مع المخبرين الرئيسيين ومناقشات مجموعات التركيز)، بالإضافة إلى تحليل البيانات الثانوية (السياسات التنظيمية). تم تحليل البيانات باستخدام البرامج الإحصائية والتحليل المواضيعي، مع التدقيق المتبادل لضمان صحتها. 

النتائج الرئيسية

تم تحديد العديد من التدريبات المختلفة كحاجة مثل:

التنسيق

تقييم الاحتياجات

الأمن الشخصي

الحماية الإنسانية

التخطيط للمشاريع

المساءلة أمام الفئات المتأثرة

تطوير القدرات البشرية

التشغيل و الإدارة

الاستدامة

الإدارة المالية

This Learning Needs Assessment identifies capacity gaps and learning needs among engineers and technical specialists engaged in response efforts in Libya.

Understanding these gaps is essential for developing targeted training programs, that can enhance the skills and knowledge required to address the complex challenges posed by the conflict. 

The LNA also assessed the existing strengths among engineers, so RedR can recommend the best ways that humanitarian partners can leverage best these capabilities. 

Using the findings to train disaster responders on the most urgent topics

Subsequently, RedR conducted this in-depth and detailed Learning Needs Assessment to better inform the ongoing training response to the disaster in Libya. The overarching questions that this Learning Needs Assessment seeks to assess are:

• What are the current capacity gaps and learning needs amongst humanitarian responders to
  the Libya floods?
• What are the capacity strengths amongst humanitarians responding to the floods?
• How can humanitarian partners best utilise these strengths?

It enables RedR to tailor our response to the evolving needs of the crisis. By understanding the specific learning needs and capacity gaps, RedR can provide training that is most relevant and impactful, thereby enhancing the overall response in Libya. 

Key findings

Various trainings were identified as a need such as:

• coordination
• needs assessment
• water management
• WASH
• flood effect on structures and infrastructures
• Rapid Damage Assessments
• Accountability to Affected Populations
• Humanitarian principles
• protection
• personal safety and security.

There is a shift in needs now that Libya is no longer in an emergency phase but is now in a transitional phase. Some of the trainings that are more of a priority now are DRR and climate
change.

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In October 2023, Herat province in Afghanistan was impacted by a series of earthquakes which caused severe destruction to buildings and infrastructure. Ebadullah Momand has overseen response from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on shelter and housing, since then, serving as technical focal person at the field level in the region.

“We supported the community financially and technically to build transitional shelters in one
village (Chahak)”, explains Ebadullah. He is now working to continue support through building
and repairing homes. 

“The RedR training on repairing and retrofitting vernacular houses was very relevant”, says
Ebadullah. “Such trainings are rare, and there is a huge expertise gap in Afghanistan in
retrofitting vernacular and even modern buildings and houses.”

When earthquakes strike, these houses are often significantly impacted. We need repair and retrofitting techniques that are affordable and earthquake resistant. He says, “My experience with UNDP has taught me about vernacular concepts including carbon emissions, climate-friendly practices, and building local knowledge and capacity, which have helped me easily understand the training on retrofitting and repairing of vernacular houses, conducted by RedR UK.” 

As Ebadullah explains, however, there is significant value in preserving and repairing vernacular houses, created through traditional techniques – from not only a cultural, but also a technical standpoint. “In preserving cultural heritage through these traditional techniques, we also ensure the sustainability of these structures with minimal carbon emissions. Using local materials and traditional techniques not only enhances the resilience of these houses to seismic forces, but also makes them more adaptable to local climate conditions, leading to natural energy efficiency.”

This training, specifically catered to developing earthquake resilience in vernacular structures such as these, therefore holds particular value in the Afghan context. “By equipping individuals with the knowledge and skills to implement earthquake-resistant features and retrofitting measures in vernacular houses”, says Ebadullah, “we can help communities better withstand the impact of earthquakes and protect their cultural and traditional method of life.”

“The training has had a significant impact on my work, as it has deepened my understanding of the importance of preserving vernacular housing techniques, especially in disaster-prone areas like Afghanistan. I now have the knowledge and skills to implement earthquake-resistant features and retrofitting measures in traditional houses, which will help communities better withstand the impact of earthquakes and protect their cultural heritage.”

“This training has inspired me to continue working in disaster response, as I see the value in combining traditional knowledge with modern techniques to build more resilient and sustainable communities.”

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in training disaster responders worldwide. Give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world here.

Yousra is a mental health physician, with experience working with many different organisations, locally and internationally.

Working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Capacity Building Assistant, she runs training and workshops on mental health, especially for migrant groups in schools and other community contexts.  She is also the founder of Mwja, an enterprise providing training and raising community awareness about mental health. Yousra is experienced in supporting people through crisis contexts. In 2019, she founded an NGO platform to raise awareness around managing stress created by the civil war in Libya. 

The flood in Libya, caused by the breaking of two dams following Storm Daniel on 11 September 2023, caused over 30,000 people to lose their homes, with more than 10,000 people having lost their lives. The disaster causes widespread psychological trauma for those affected by the flood, as well as for those who respond.  

Through RedR’s Training of Trainers programme, Yousra developed her skills in online training delivery, learning to improve interactivity, and ensure participants take in what they’re learning. “In addition to a certificate that may help me develop my career”, says Yousra, “valuable information and a network of relationships with trainers and attendees is the biggest gain for me.” 

Equipped to develop her own online training for mental health support workers working with those affected by the Libya floods, Yousra is launching her own online programme in February 2024. With specific expertise for disaster contexts, Yousra will pass on her expertise in psychological first aid, self-care for responders, and empower her participants to begin their own basic steps to facilitate support group for adults and children.  

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in Libya, generously supported by H2H and FCDO. If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here. 

Since the floods that devastated the city of Derna in Libya last September, Basma El-Werfally has been working with her team to provide support.

Chair of Meras Organisation for Development, a youth volunteer and development organisation, Basma lead a large campaign in the aftermath of the flood, giving food, household items, and other essentials to families who had lost everything. 

Founded in 2017 to strengthen the role of civil society in Libya, Meras usually focuses on capacity development, particularly of women and young people. Their first project strengthened social entrepreneurship among organisational leaders, and Meras went on to support capacities for various vulnerable groups affected by conflict, adopting projects for economic and political empowerment of women and young people. With several projects implemented with funding from the European Union and local partners, Meras aspires to implement many programs that enhance its role as a Libyan civil society organization contributing to achieving sustainable development in Libya.

Although Basma was experienced in working in contexts of conflict, the flood brought a new kind of disaster on an unprecedented scale. Alongside the challenges of the emergency response including lack of available data, security and political challenges, and a widespread lack of confidence in donor organisations, Basma and her team were also profoundly affected psychologically by the disaster. 

Although she is already an experienced coach and trainer, Basma had never worked in a humanitarian disaster of this kind. RedR’s Training of Trainers programme equipped Basma with the humanitarian knowledge she needed to train others, with the specific skills needed in emergency disaster response contexts. 

Thanks for your support for RedR’s work in Libya, generously supported by FCDO and H2H. If you’d like to give financially to support this and similar projects for disaster-affected communities all over the world, you can do so here.