We help out where - and when - people need us most

Every year, millions of people lose almost everything - their homes and belongings – in natural disasters and conflicts. Many seek refuge in humanitarian camps just to have shelter, food and clean water. Some end up staying for years – or generations – with little opportunity to change their situation or secure the safety of family and friends, and little hope of returning to the everyday life they knew. So, for many, a temporary emergency shelter becomes a home.

That’s why the IKEA Foundation has chosen to support victims of large natural disasters such as the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and flooding in Pakistan to address their critical needs for a place to call home. In addition, IKEA retail countries help financially and through in-kind support during national disasters. The IKEA Foundation has also chosen to focus on refugees – one of the world’s most vulnerable groups – to help them prepare for reclaiming their everyday lives more quickly and more fully.

The IKEA Foundation is engaged in programmes in several geographical areas.
When it comes to emergency relief in case of natural disaster or conflicts, the IKEA Foundation’s support is based on our partners’ needs assessment. This means that there is no geographical focus of our efforts, we support where we, together with our partners, see a need for either in-kind donated IKEA products or financial support.

Our main partners when it comes to emergency relief are UNICEF, UNHCR and Save the Children. We however also work with several other partners aiming at improving the lives of those impacted by disasters or conflicts.

Click on the programme title or partner logo below to learn more

Programmes Partners Creating better homes for emergency relief & beyond. An anonymous tracing platform for separated refugee families. Provisions of school books to children in Dadaab refugee camp. Providing refugee children and families with temporary accommodation, life skills and economic empowerment. To stimulate education, research in industrial design and encourage the progress of designs for living that get maximum value from minimum materials.   In-kind donations of helpful IKEA products and financial support during states of emergency.