WELCOME TO RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL

Response International is a UK registered charity established in 1993 to support victims of violent conflict. Over the last decade successful multi-sector programmes have been implemented in Angola, Bosnia, Chechnya, Kosovo, Lebanon and Pakistan. The objective of these programmes is to design and implement projects that offer immediate relief to victims of conflict and provide sustainable conditions to enable longer term development .

Response International's projects have included landmine clearance and landmine awareness, victim rehabilitation, trauma surgery, assisting the return and re-integration of war refugees, health care in emergencies, and psychological/social support as part of torture rehabilitation and community based healthcare. More recently, Response International has widened its sphere of activities by becoming involved in a childcare project in Sri Lanka in response to the desperate needs of those who suffered from the December 2004 Tsunami across Asia.

In this website, you can read more about Response International’s work including details of specific projects around the world. You can also read about ways in which you could become a part of that work - through volunteering, head office tasks and fund raising activities (for how to donate and register please click here). All involved with Response International hope that you find the site informative and thank you for your interest.

HISTORY AND OVERVIEW

For 12 years Response International's medical staff have been working in war zones around the world. The teams of British, US and Irish nurses, doctors, surgeons and landmine specialists have brought emergency support services to areas of conflict and remained to implement recovery and reconstruction programmes.

Response International was the first organisation to provide surgical teams to live and work in Sarajevo early in the siege. In 1995 it was one of the few organisations to provide medical assistance within the borders of Chechnya. In 1996, it provided medical teams and emergency services support to Lebanon in the immediate aftermath of the "Grapes of Wrath" campaign becoming the only international organisation with a long-term presence in the south of the country.

Recognising the devastating effect that landmines and UXO (unexploded ordnance) have on the physical, psychological and social well-being of individuals and whole communities, Response International is involved in landmines awareness, survey and clearance operations in a number of countries. Innovative and highly successful minefield paramedic training has been a feature of these mines action programmes with those involved maintaining and enhancing their clinical skills through regular secondments to local trauma centres.

A major strength of Response International lies in its commitment to the development of sustainable, community-based healthcare resources. Structured, in-service training programmes for teams of psycho-social workers supporting refugee populations in Tuzla, Bosnia, and for community nurses working in both Tuzla and south Lebanon, have greatly enhanced local capacity, and should facilitate the anticipated transition to autonomous, self-sustaining indigenous NGO status or the recovery and enhancement of national health service provision.

THE WAY RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL WORKS

Response International is a professional, lean "no frills" organisation and as such is highly respected by such donors as the UN, EC, USAID, UK/DFID, the Government of Ireland and the US Department of State all of whom have funded Response International projects. Individual supporters, corporations and charitable foundations have also made much appreciated donations.

All resources at Response International's disposal are devoted to delivering programmes in the field and nothing is spent on fund-raising and public relations activities. This means public awareness of Response International is limited and so therefore is public support in the way of donations for its cost-effective work.

Response International's eminent senior medical consultants all give their services free of charge. Furthermore Response International prides itself on utilising as many local skills as possible, thereby reducing reliance on international staff to the benefit of the local teams.