In 2004, a massive undersea earthquake off the coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, triggered colossal tsunamis that inundated coastal areas across the region, catching communities off-guard and causing widespread destruction. One of the most devastating natural disasters in recorded history, the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami impacted multiple countries and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. Read about how World Vision responded and our ongoing efforts in the region.
News & Stories
World Vision Magazine
From the Field
Crisis in Sudan: A deeper look
Read the stories of two small children and a father of newborn twins whose lives were upended when the conflict erupted in Sudan in 2023.
Voices
From the World Vision U.S. president: Bridge the distance
World Vision U.S. president and CEO visited Adré, Chad, where hundreds of people crowded under a bridge as they fled conflict in Sudan. Once they arrive at the border, World Vision is helping people as they go through the process of entering a new country and providing short-term assistance.
From the Field
Crisis worldwide: More refugees’ stories
According to UNHCR estimates, the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide exceeded 120 million in April 2024 — a historic high. Among those displaced, 40% are children. This alarming fact underscores the importance of prioritizing children’s needs amid displacement. We know that all children, including each of the approximately 47 million who are displaced, have inherent worth and God-given potential. Read about three kids currently experiencing displacement, and how they and their families exemplify resilience and unyielding spirit.
From the Field
Irresistible: One family’s journey to change
A family who once lived in a termite-ridden hut received the gift of goats and changed their lives — to the delight of the man who believed in them.
From the Field
Yessica’s story in Honduras: A new view when she looks in the mirror
Yessica’s family struggled as she was growing up, but after World Vision invited her to learn to farm and participate in Biblical Empowered Worldview classes, she’s now earning twice the average income for most people in Honduras.
Voices
Fueled by passion and purpose: Melissa Joan Hart shares her story of being a World Vision Celebrity Ambassador
Melissa Joan Hart shares her passion for helping communities both locally and internationally as a World Vision Celebrity Ambassador and child sponsor.
From the Field
2024 life frames: Storytelling from World Vision photographers
World Vision photographers capture stories of children and their families to inspire us toward action and compassion. These moments in time illuminate God’s grace and faithfulness as we work together to end extreme poverty in His name.
From the Field
In the kitchen: Zacusca
World Vision brought Romanian families together in a cooperative that turned the community’s overabundance of eggplant and peppers — formerly used as animal fodder — into jars of tasty spread called zacusca that they could sell for income year-round, not just at harvest time.
Change Makers
What does the Bible say about refugees and displaced people?
You won’t find the word “refugee” in the Bible, but there are principles in God’s Word for how His people are to treat those who are called “strangers,” “foreigners,” and “sojourners” in our translations. In Matthew 25, Jesus says that how we treat “strangers” indicates whether or not we are His followers. Disciples’ behavior should include hospitality to strangers. And the New Testament epistles use the term “strangers” as a metaphor for our status before we professed faith in Jesus Christ.