A big thank you on HI's 40th anniversary

Thailand, 1982. 160,000 Cambodians flee the Khmer Rouge regime to seek safety in Thai refugee camps. Hidden amongst the crowds are more than 6,000 amputees, many of them victims of anti-personnel landmines. No one is concerned with their fate.

Outraged by the situation, two young doctors decide to produce artificial limbs using the only materials available – bamboo and a few strips of leather. HI is created, and with it the start of an ongoing fight against the injustice faced by the world’s most vulnerable people.

Co-founders of HI, Jean-Baptiste and Marie Richardier with two children supported by HI in a refugee camp on the Thailand-Cambodia border, early 1980s. © HI

The scale of our ambition

Today, HI has grown into a global network supporting and vulnerable people in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster.

We have a team of almost 4,000 staff delivering over 450 projects in 60 countries around the world. Our work supports millions of and vulnerable people every year.

And, over 40 years of action, our commitment has not wavered - we continue to work tirelessly alongside and vulnerable people to help meet their basic needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.

Our life-changing work would not be possible without the amazing generosity of our donors. Thank you!

Our amazing impact

Since 2012, more than 23 million people have benefited directly from HI's actions, including through rehabilitation and artificial limb fitting services, emergency aid distributions, trainings, financial support or from our advocacy actions.

In just the last 5 years our impact has been incredible:

^{Physical rehabilitation in Cambodia © Lucas Veuve / HI}

Our teams have provided nearly 400,000 assistive devices including artificial limbs, braces, walkers, wheelchairs and crutches to people with disabilities and limited mobility, allowing them to reclaim their right to independence and autonomy.

 

^{Emergency aid distribution in Mozambique © A.Neves / HI}

We have provided more than 650,000 emergency kits containing essential items to vulnerable families living in a disaster, conflict, or crisis. In an emergency, basic goods like soap and towels for hygiene, cooking supplies like pots, rice and oil, and household goods like warm blankets or mosquito nets enable families to maintain their dignity and meet their daily needs.

 

^{Mine clearance in Lebanon © G. Dubourthoumieu / HI}

Our demining teams have cleared over 80 million square meters of land contaminated by landmines and explosive ordnance. That’s roughly the size of Manhattan, New York, made safe and released back to communities.

 

^{Inclusive education in Rwanda © S. Wohlfahrt / HI}

Our inclusive education projects have enabled over one million people, including children, teachers and families to benefit from access to school. Children with disabilities, girls, and other marginalized groups are often excluded from their right to education.

Key dates: 40 years of HI

• 1982: HI is created in refugee camps in Thailand to provide artificial limbs and support for Cambodian landmine victims.
• 1992: HI launches its first demining actions and, with five other NGOs, creates the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) .
• 1997: The Mine Ban Treaty is signed in Ottawa. HI  becomes a co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize.
• 2005: HI launches a huge emergency operation in Indonesia and Sri Lanka in response to the tsunami of 26th December 2004.
• 2006: The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is signed, with major contributions from HI's team alongside organizations of people with disabilities.
• 2008: The Cluster Munitions Convention is signed in Oslo, following a long campaign by HI with other NGOs to ban cluster munitions.
• 2010: HI launches an emergency response following the devastating earthquake in Haiti which left thousands of people with amputations.
• 2011: HI is awarded the Hilton Humanitarian Prize in recognition of almost 30 years of humanitarian action.
• 2013: HI launches an emergency response to support people impacted by the conflict in Syria. As the crisis grows, this becomes our largest humanitarian deployment to date.
• 2020: HI receives two European Union Horizon Awards for Innovation for its projects on 3D printing of artificial limbs and the use of drones for mine clearance.
• 2022: HI launches an emergency intervention to support the most vulnerable people affected by the war in Ukraine.

Our progress inspires us to go even further

Despite our progess, so much more remains to be done.

Around the world, explosive weapons are still claiming the lives and limbs of civilians. And people with disabilities are still being forgotten and excluded from accessing the support they need. Together we can make a difference!

Make a donation today to support our work

^{Rehabilitation in DR Congo © R.Colfs / HI}