Humanity First


Humanity First is an international charity that provides disaster relief and long term development assistance to vulnerable communities in 52 countries across 6 continents. The organisation is run by volunteers with diverse skillsets across the world and has access to thousands of extra volunteers worldwide. Volunteer staff in all areas often pay their own expenses to support the international projects.
The organisation differentiates itself in the aid industry with a high level of efficiency. Extensive use of volunteers, partnerships and global sourcing result in high levels of funds going straight to projects. Similarly, the value of the aid delivered is greater than the value of donations received. Uniquely, volunteer staff often pay their own international expenses.
As immediate disaster responses conclude, the charity also often begins rehabilitation services through orphan care, water infrastructure and vocational training.
The organisation gained Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Objectives

The charity is based upon the preservation of human life and dignity. Its objectives are to:
The concept of Humanity First originates from a desire to provide aid on the basis of need alone, irrespective of race, religion, colour or political allegiance. The organisation was established in London, UK and registered in 1994 by then worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Tahir Ahmad. Ahmadiyya is a global reform movement within Islam, with 20 million followers, one of its objectives is "establishing peace at all levels of society and to protect the basic human rights of all people".

Growth and Present Situation

Humanity First grew into a multi-national aid agency and non-profit charitable organisation, often working with other agencies such as the Red Cross, Oxfam, and Save the Children. The organisation has access to thousands of volunteers across the globe. Humanity First today has Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Two Areas of Focus

The organization splits its work into two areas;
Disaster relief covers the provision of humanitarian aid, medical relief, shelter, food and safe water in response to both man-made and natural disasters. Examples in the last 10 years include responses to the following: Kobe earthquake in Japan, Kosovo War, 1999 İzmit earthquake in Turkey, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2005 Kashmir earthquake in Pakistan. More recently, they have responded to catastrophic flooding in Suriname, Guyana and Kenya, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami and the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London, UK.


Table of Disaster Relief Work

The table below illustrates disasters that HF have been involved in and level of assistance they have provided to local victims:
DisasterYearCountries AffectedScale of DisasterPeople AssistedNature of Help
Kosovo1997Kosovo, Albania, Serbia10k killed, 850k displaced> 10,000Medical, Food, Clothing
Izmit Earthquake1999Turkey17k killed, 60k homeless15,000Medical, Shelter, Food, Clothing
Gujarat Earthquake2001India20k killed, 166k injured, 600k homeless5,500Medical, Shelter, Food, Clothing
Asian tsunami2004Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia220k killed, 1.6 Million homeless30,000Medical, Shelter, Food, Clothing
Hurricane Katrina2005United States1.8k killed, Millions homeless1,050Medical, Shelter/ Re-Furb, Food, Clothing, IT
Kashmir Earthquake2005Pakistan80k killed, 3.3M homeless60,000Medical, Shelter, Food, Clothing, Counseling
Latin American Flooding2005-06Suriname, Guyana30k displaced and homeless10,000Food, Clothing, IT
Peru Earthquake2007Peru250k homeless2,000Food, Clothing, Shelter
Cyclone Sidr2007Bangladesh5k killed, 34k injured, 500k affected7,000Medical, Water, Food, Clothing, Shelter
Kenya Post-Election Violence2008Kenya1.5k killed, 600k displaced2,500Medical, Food, Clothing
Cyclone Nargis2008Burma146k killed, 1M displaced2,000Clothing, Water
Gaza Violence2009Gaza, Israel7k killed or injured, 100k homeless7,000Food, Education
Sumatra Earthquake2009Indonesia4k killed or injured, 1.2M displaced1,000Medical, Food, Shelter
Cyclone Aila2009Bangladesh8.5k killed or injured, 1M homeless1,600Food, Water, Clothing, Shelter
Haiti Earthquake2010Haiti230k killed, 300k injured, 1M affected55,000Medical, Water, Orphan Care, Shelter
West African Ebola virus epidemic2014Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Guinea, Mali, Senegal11.3k killed, 28.6k infected200,000 treatedMedical, Water, Orphan Care, Shelter
Grenfell Tower fire2017London, UK72 deaths, 74 hospitalised, hundreds displacedAssistance at shelters, and food, water and clothing at the tower site. Funds also raised for family assistance.
Syrian Civil War2014–PresentSyria, Jordan498k killed, 7.6m internally displaced, 5.1m refugees7,500+ refugees.Refugees provided with shelter, food, healthcare, and education for children
Rohingya crisis2017–PresentBangladesh refugee camp650,000 refugees30,000+Medical treatment, emergency water and sanitation, and regular hot food

List updated in 2014 expect for Syrian Civil War, Rohingya crisis and Grenfell Tower additions.

Human Development

Humanity First approaches its human development projects with long term sustainability as a priority. The projects are rooted in a community deeply affected by a natural disaster, war, or poverty. After the relief phase of the project has subsided, Humanity First works with the community to identify viable opportunities for growth and recovery.
Human development programs can be categorized under the categories of: 1) Health & Medical Programs, or 2) Educational & Vocational Programs. Health & Medical: Designed to provide much needed health and medical services and supplies to some of the world's most vulnerable populations. Educational & Vocational Programs: Designed to help create capacity and self-sufficiency through providing support for primary education for children and vocational training for adults in various under-privileged communities around the world
The organisation splits its long-term work into seven programmes:
  1. Food Security
  2. Knowledge for Life
  3. Orphan Care
  4. Knowledge for Life
  5. Water for Life
  6. Global Health
  7. Gift of Sight
Examples of Long-term Project Work

Humanity First runs a number of long-term projects largely in Africa and Asia:
The organisation is known for its high level of efficiency. Extensive use of volunteers, partnerships and global sourcing result in high levels of funds going straight to projects. Similarly, the value of the aid delivered is greater than the value of donations received. Uniquely, volunteer staff often pay their own international expenses.
Spending is subdivided from the organisation's two areas - long-term work in human development and short-term disaster relief. Volunteer staff in all areas often pay their own expenses to support the international projects.
Project CategoryTotal
Disaster Relief732,837
Gift of Sight143,259
Knowledge for Life443,603
Food Security473,781
Medical Program1,590,309
Learn a Skill282,965
Orphan Care86,965
Water for Life452,447
Refugee Assistance573,668
Social and Community Services82,518
Other Projects18,118