Aid in response to natural disasters and crises in Switzerland
Since 1994, Swiss Solidarity has been helping people affected by natural disasters in Switzerland, including storms, floods, avalanches and landslides, as well as major crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Aid in response to crises
In 2020, Swiss Solidarity launched a national appeal for solidarity to help the Swiss population cope with the social and economic consequences of the pandemic and the protective measures put in place to counter it. Thanks to the public’s immense generosity, we raised over CHF 43 million in donations and were able to support over 200 regional and local projects and almost 130 local organisations. Our aid took the form of psychological support, food, and financial assistance for those who lost their income due to the crisis.
Aid in response to natural disasters
In response to the dramatic natural disasters that struck Switzerland, such as the landslides in Blatten, Bondo and Gondo, and the devastating storms in the cantons of Ticino, Valais and the Grisons in 2024, Swiss Solidarity reacted swiftly by appealing for donations to help those affected.
In October 2000, the cantons of Valais and Ticino were hit by violent storms that caused massive destruction and created a humanitarian emergency. In Gondo in particular, a devastating landslide swept away a third of the village’s homes.
Swiss Solidarity responded by raising CHF 74.2 million in donations, which were used for emergency aid and reconstruction in close cooperation with the affected communities. Today, this initiative remains a powerful symbol of the solidarity of the Swiss in times of crisis.
In summer 2005, violent storms caused significant destruction in Switzerland, especially in Valais, the Grisons and the Bernese Oberland. Swiss Solidarity raised almost CHF 50 million and earmarked the donations for emergency aid and reconstruction.
Within two years, 89% of the funds had been distributed to individuals, local authorities and businesses affected by the disaster, demonstrating the impressive solidarity and the effectiveness of the aid provided during a national crisis.
In the wake of the devastating storms that struck in summer 2024, Swiss Solidarity raised over CHF 13 million for those affected in the cantons of the Grisons, Ticino and Valais and in Brienz (BE).
One year on, around CHF 6 million has already been used for emergency aid and to support individuals, small businesses and charitable projects. We are continuing to provide aid with the aim of delivering long-term, targeted support where insurance and government aid are insufficient.
In May 2025, the entire village of Blatten in Valais was practically wiped away by a massive landslide. Swiss Solidarity mobilised its permanent fund for natural disasters in Switzerland and released over CHF 21 million to support those affected in several phases: emergency aid, medium-term aid, compensation for loss of income, and long-term aid to cover remaining costs.
Swiss Solidarity provides assistance by working closely with local authorities and other stakeholders, and constantly adapting its aid to meet the needs on the ground.
Following a major natural disaster, initial funding can be released to provide immediate aid to those affected and enable them to cover their most urgent needs. Once the initial phase is over, we can cover additional medium-term costs, such as rent and transportation. After the insurance companies have settled victims’ claims, our support supplements the aid provided by the public authorities, insurance companies and other institutions to cover the residual costs of damage to homes and property, loss of income or business interruption, and damages incurred by associations.
Our assistance in detail
Swiss Solidarity serves as a complement to insurance companies and government authorities, providing aid which generally falls into the following four areas:
- Emergency aid
In the first few weeks following a disaster, direct aid is provided to victims to cover their most urgent needs such as furniture, clothing, temporary accommodation and travel expenses. - Support for individuals, small businesses and associations
Assistance is made available to meet remaining costs not covered or only partially covered by insurance and government aid, such as additional rent, furniture, vehicle replacement, the restoration of homes and immediate surroundings, income loss and business interruption, and the replacement of work equipment. - Community and public interest projects
Longer-term initiatives can be funded to meet the needs of the community: psychological support, support in finding accommodation, administrative assistance, removal of debris, rehabilitation of farmland, and more. - Support for municipalities with limited financial resources
Some affected municipalities do not have the financial resources to refurbish their infrastructure and may receive support, if the volume of donations allows.
“Swiss Solidarity has extensive experience in responding to natural disasters in Switzerland. We rally the population and transform their solidarity into effective and targeted aid. We provide support as promptly as possible and for as long as necessary to help those affected by the disaster.”
Stefanie Werder
Head of Programs SwitzerlandYou can support our work in response to natural disasters and crises in Switzerland.
To support our work in the event of future disasters in Switzerland, you can donate to this permanent fund, which allows us to intervene immediately – without waiting for a fundraising campaign to be launched – to provide rapid, targeted and effective aid to those affected.
Q&A
Our fund for natural disasters in Switzerland provides aid if and when disasters occur in the future. Donations to this fund are used to provide rapid, targeted aid immediately following a disaster, or to support victims of a disaster in Switzerland for which donations are insufficient. Swiss Solidarity uses these funds in four main ways:
- Emergency aid: Immediately after a disaster, such as a flood or landslide, the fund covers the most urgent needs, such as the cost of emergency accommodation, clothing, furniture and transportation.
- Support for private individuals, small businesses and associations: When some needs are not covered by insurance or government assistance, Swiss Solidarity helps with rental costs, repairs, loss of income or the replacement of work equipment.
- Community and public interest projects: These include psychological support, the search for accommodation, clearance work and farmland restoration.
- Support for municipalities with limited financial resources: such municipalities can receive support for rebuilding infrastructure, if the volume of donations allows.
Thanks to your donation, aid can be delivered quickly and efficiently in close collaboration with local authorities and organisations, wherever it is most needed.
No. The logistics involved in collecting, transporting and sorting material goods are too complex and costly. What’s more, there is no guarantee that donations match the actual needs on the ground. Instead, we focus on providing financial aid, which enables us to provide affected people with what they actually need, more quickly and more effectively.
Swiss Solidarity is committed to maximizing the impact of donations. In keeping with our principles of transparency, at least 95% of every donation is used directly to help those affected. A maximum of 5% can be used to cover the operating costs that are essential to our ability to provide aid.
We communicate regularly through our website and social networks (Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn) about what we are able to do thanks to your donations. We describe the projects we fund and explain how aid reaches affected populations. Sometimes, television programmes such as Ensemble on RTS feature dedicated reports on our projects.
You can also subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our latest news.
Last but not least, our annual report contains detailed information on the projects we support and our finances.
Thanks to its permanent fund, Swiss Solidarity can take immediate action: in the days immediately following a disaster, an initial tranche of funding can be released for emergency aid.
Swiss Solidarity works closely with affected communities, the cantons and other disaster relief organisations. This ensures that aid gets to where it is most needed.
Your donation remains in the permanent fund and is immediately available when the next disaster or crisis strikes. This allows us to react quickly in the event of an emergency without all the usual red tape or having to wait for new donations to be raised.
Aid in response to natural disasters and crises in Switzerland
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Exceptional solidarity from the Swiss population - Swiss Solidarity has already raised over CHF 11 million to support Blatten
04.06.2025Thanks to a remarkable outpouring of solidarity from the Swiss population and the support of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SRG), Swiss Solidarity has already been able to collect more than CHF 11 million for the people affected by the rockslide in Blatten. These donations will enable Swiss Solidarity to provide rapid and lasting help to those affected.
