The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) participated in the inaugural G20 Social, an event organized by the G20 to address social justice, sustainability, and the reduction of inequalities. This meeting began on November 14, 2024, and brought together humanitarian organizations, social movements, and global leaders to discuss urgent issues such as hunger, poverty, climate change, and new forms of global governance.

During the event, the institution shared its experiences in humanitarian assistance and emergency management. In the panel titled “Humanitarian Assistance in Natural Disasters and Emergencies,” ADRA Brazil presented its practices for responding to critical situations, such as floods and landslides. Among other initiatives, the organization emphasized the use of the solidarity truck, a mobile humanitarian assistance vehicle that provides immediate support to affected areas.

For the Director of ADRA Brazil, Fabio Salles, the exchange of experiences and the strengthening of partnerships with Civil Defense, promoted by G20 Social, further improve the institution's capacity to respond to emergencies.

“It was a very valuable space for exchange, where we presented our service standards, highlighting the operation of our solidarity truck and other actions that reinforce ADRA’s agile and efficient response. We left here with a strengthened partnership, which will allow us to further train our volunteers to act with excellence in future emergencies,” said Salles.

The panel also included the director of ADRA South America, Paulo Lopes, who addressed emergency response strategies and highlighted interventions carried out by the institution in South America.

The audience present at the space presented by Adventist News Agency reinforced the relevance of the panel for building an effective response in disaster situations. “The G20 Social opens the possibility for us to share experiences, not just desires. We already have a clear diagnosis of what needs to be done, but the big question is how to do it. A space like this, which promotes integration between public and private institutions, is essential for us to advance in the protection of people in vulnerable situations”, pointed out Denise Tarin, prosecutor of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Ariel Denise Pontes Afonso, a psychologist specializing in emergencies and disasters, brought to the discussion the need for volunteers to be prepared. “There is no point in caring for victims if those providing assistance are not prepared. The pressure and trauma in disaster areas also require attention to the mental health of teams. And events like this help to reflect on the creation of public policies and the integrated action of different sectors for effective work in all phases of a disaster,” stressed the psychologist, who currently works at UNESCO.

About ADRA

ADRA, the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, operates in more than 120 countries, including Brazil, providing emergency assistance and social development. The organization is recognized for its prompt response in crisis situations and for collaborating with government agencies and other organizations to minimize the impact of natural disasters and combat inequality.

The original article was published on the South American Division Portuguese website.