Helping children and communities prepare for disasters – and get vital support quickly when crisis strikes
Save the Children has joined HSBC’s Disaster Relief Partnership, together with UNICEF and the British Red Cross, to help children and communities prepare for natural disasters at a time when crises are becoming more frequent and intense.
When disaster strikes, children’s lives can change in an instant. They may lose their homes, miss out on school or be separated from the people and services that keep them safe. And the impact can last long after the immediate emergency is over. Through the partnership, HSBC is helping us protect children before, during and after emergencies.
The HSBC Disaster Relief Partnership brings together Save the Children, UNICEF and the British Red Cross. Together, we are helping communities prepare for natural disasters and making sure humanitarian organisations can act quickly when emergencies happen.
HSBC has also become a member of Save the Children’s Humanitarian Network, joining a group of corporate partners committed to helping us prepare for and respond to emergencies around the world.
Reaching children quickly in an emergency
When disaster strikes, every moment matters. Through Save the Children’s Humanitarian Fund, HSBC’s flexible funding can be released quickly so we can respond when children and families need us most.
HSBC’s support has already helped Save the Children respond to flooding in Nepal and an earthquake in Colombia. It helped us provide families with essentials and food, and create safe spaces where children could learn, play and get mental health and protection support.
Pam Kaur, Group Chief Financial Officer, HSBC, said:
“In an emergency, speed saves lives, and funding for disaster response has to keep pace. As an international bank with deep roots around the world, HSBC cares deeply about getting support to communities as quickly as we can in the aftermath of a crisis.”
Acting before disaster strikes
We can now predict many humanitarian crises before they happen. By acting on forecasts and early-warning information, families have precious time to prepare, protect their livelihoods and move to safety before the worst impacts are felt.
With HSBC’s support, Save the Children is strengthening this approach – known as anticipatory action – in countries including Bangladesh and the Philippines. We are creating plans – known as early action protocols – that allow us to turn forecasts into practical action, such as sharing early-warning messages, preparing shelters with safe spaces for children, and arranging evacuation support for children and others most at risk.
In Bangladesh, funding was released when a pre-agreed rainfall trigger showed a growing risk of flooding and landslides in Chattogram in August 2026. Communities were able to act before the flooding became more severe, helping around 30,000 people avoid the worst effects of the crisis.
Working together to make a bigger difference
The scale of today’s humanitarian challenges means no organisation can tackle them alone. By bringing together Save the Children, UNICEF and the British Red Cross, HSBC is helping organisations with deep humanitarian expertise and trusted local partnerships combine their strengths.
Moazzam Malik, CEO of Save the Children UK, said:
“By bringing together HSBC’s commitment with the expertise of three leading humanitarian organisations, we have an opportunity not only to deliver practical support, but influence how the wider sector invests in preparedness, anticipatory action and faster humanitarian response.”
