Humanitarian aid

Poverty and disability form a vicious circle. More than 80% of persons with disabilities in developing regions live below the poverty line. The United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December is intended to raise awareness of the issues they face. Through its projects in Burkina Faso and Bangladesh, Switzerland creates prospects for persons living with physical, intellectual or mental impairments. This work is particularly important in the age of COVID-19.

On 2 November, Switzerland and Indonesia celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations. Batik culture, an economic partnership agreement that came into force on 1 November, Swiss vocational education and training in Indonesia, traditional shadow theatre, gamelan music, a hand-made road and Swiss disaster relief – the stories behind an excellent partnership.

On 29 October 2021, Federal Councillor Cassis launches the process 'On the Road to Lugano' in preparation for the Ukraine Reform Conference 2022, to be held in Switzerland. Increasing responsibility at local level, lowering the cost of heating, contributing towards conflict prevention – Switzerland has been supporting Ukraine for more than 20 years in the areas of international cooperation, peacebuilding and humanitarian aid. Thanks to this long-standing engagement and its chairmanship of the conference, Switzerland will be able to make a lasting contribution in 2022 to stability and prosperity in Ukraine.

With its proximity to the Mekong River basin, Cambodia was – until recently – not well prepared for major natural disasters. But with the advent of new early warning technology suitable for widespread use, things are changing, little by little. The SDC is closely involved in a project that harnesses this technology.

60 years of the SDC: demanding more, improving impact measurement, strengthening networks, and remaining agile. As this anniversary year draws to a close, the Director General of the SDC, Patricia Danzi, talks about her vision for the future of international cooperation, and considers the impact of historical events such as the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the fall of the Berlin Wall and 9/11. Read on for the full-length anniversary interview.

A year ago, the Swiss architect Emilie Schmid boarded a flight for Beirut wearing the uniform of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid Unit as a member of a team that helped rebuild the city after the tragic explosion. She talks about her experience and the importance of Swiss humanitarian aid. We are publishing this article to mark World Humanitarian Day and pay tribute to the many people who dedicate their lives to helping others.