Focus Humanitarian Assistance

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Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) is an international group of agencies established in Europe, North America and South Asia to complement the provision of emergency relief, principally in the developing world. It helps people in need reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid and facilitates their transition to sustainable self-reliant, long-term development. Focus Humanitarian Assistance is affiliated with the Aga Khan Development Network, a group of institutions working to improve opportunities and living conditions, for people of all faiths and origins, in specific regions of the developing world. Underlying the establishment of FOCUS by the Ismaili Muslim community is a history of successful initiatives to assist people struck by natural and man-made disasters in South and Central Asia, and Africa.

Introduction

Founded in 1994 by the Ismaili Muslim community under the guidance of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, FOCUS has offices in Europe, North America, South and Central Asia.

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. This affiliation enables a smooth transition from disaster assistance to long-term development.

FOCUS also works with numerous like-minded agencies and donor partners, including government, multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies, as well as corporations that share an interest in helping affected communities reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance and facilitating the transition to self-reliance. Please see our Partners page for a list for partners.

FOCUS’ expertise ranges from providing relief and assistance following landslides, earthquakes, cyclones, floods and disease epidemics. It has also undertaken successful resettlement programmes for displaced families and extended relief and recovery support for communities making the transition to development.

In addition, FOCUS has a over a decade’s expertise in fostering disaster-resilient communities and developing methods and training for disaster risk management - from natural hazard risk assessment to mitigation and preparedness - in some of the world’s most challenging terrain, including the mountains of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan and the coastal plains of the Indian subcontinent.

Over the last decade, FOCUS has been working in Afghanistan, East Timor, India, Mozambique, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Zanzibar.

Some of FOCUS’ recent endeavors include:

• South Asia Earthquake: Responding to emergency needs, providing shelter, food and medicines to isolated and vulnerable communities affected by the earthquake in both Indian- and Pakistani-administered Kashmir
• 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
• Pakistan: Establishing Community Emergency Response Teams, training volunteers in disaster risk management and establishing community stockpiles
• Afghanistan: Delivering food aid programmes in Afghanistan which combined food aid with the rehabilitation of schools, infrastructure and healthclinics
• 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