CARE Launches Emergency Kits to Reach 1M by 2030

Eighty years after the first CARE packages delivered hope to families rebuilding after World War II, the humanitarian organization is launching a next-generation emergency kit designed for modern disasters.

The original CARE package arrived in France on May 11, 1946, carrying food and supplies to 15,000 families. That single shipment sparked a movement that grew into a global network now working in more than 120 countries.

The new CARE Package for Emergencies addresses a critical gap in disaster response: those first devastating hours and days when families face the greatest danger but help is still being organized. Each kit contains nearly 40 essential items packed in three lightweight, waterproof bags that one person can carry while keeping their hands free for a child.

The design draws inspiration from India's dabbawalas, workers who efficiently deliver thousands of meals daily using stacked, modular containers. The three-bag system distributes weight around the waist and allows CARE to reach communities within 36 to 72 hours of a disaster striking.

Inside each package are shelter materials, solar lights, cooking equipment, water containers, and hygiene supplies tailored to local needs. Depending on the region, kits might include mosquito nets for tropical areas or blankets for colder climates, ensuring each package fits the community it serves.

The packages have already been tested in the Philippines, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mozambique, and Malawi following typhoons, floods, and earthquakes. More than 1,200 kits have reached nearly 6,000 people so far, with families reporting improved access to clean water, safe shelter, and a restored sense of dignity during crisis.

"Inside, families find not just shelter, cooking supplies, hygiene items, solar lighting and other items, but the tools to regain a sense of stability and humanity," said Mona Sherpa, CARE Country Director in Nepal, one of the first countries to pilot the program.

The Ripple Effect

The initiative targets disaster-prone regions in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Caribbean, where climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters. By pre-positioning kits in vulnerable areas, CARE can respond before international aid systems fully mobilize, giving families the immediate tools they need to survive and begin recovery.

CARE aims to distribute at least 250,000 packages by 2030. With each kit supporting a family of four for up to one month, the program will provide critical early support when people need it most while giving them dignity and autonomy in their darkest hours.