Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international emergency response agency which provides humanitarian relief and disaster risk management for vulnerable communities located primarily in the developing world.
FOCUS seeks to enable these communities to prepare for the eventuality of natural or man-made disasters, whilst providing humanitarian aid and facilitating their transition to sustainable, long-term development.
Some of FOCUS’ recent endeavours include:
- USA-Hurricane Rita and Katrina – Assisting in the relief efforts providing medical aid, clothing and facilitating access to state services
- Indian Ocean Tsunami - Providing relief and recovery programmes to communities affected by the 2004 tsunami in Andhra Pradesh, India
- Afghanistan - Providing emergency relief in transit camps and, later, assisting returnees from Pakistan secure shelter and means of earning a livelihood
- Tajikistan - Undertaking detailed hazard vulnerability assessments and natural hazard mitigation projects
- Madagascar - Providing assistance to communities when it was hit by a severe cyclone
- Mozambique – Delivering emergency humanitarian aid following severe flooding to over 30,000 refugees by supplying food, medicines, boats and essential commodities
FOCUS is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational agencies working to improve living conditions and opportunities for people in specific regions of the developing world.
AKDN has advanced a number of initiatives in areas of social, cultural and economic development. In Tanzania this includes the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, the development of multipurpose educational facilities and School Improvement Programmes. It has been responsible for strengthening financial service companies in banking and insurance sectors as well as the opening of major upmarket tourism facilities.
To find out more about the work of FOCUS please visit www.akdn.org/focus