Milestones

 

Mercy Relief has provided humanitarian aid in Asia-Pacific and beyond for over two decades. Throughout the years, we have invested in communities and worked alongside survivors to help them rebuild their lives.

Explore key events in the history of our organisation since its inception in 2003.

 

  • Mercy Relief is officially launched by then-Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as Singapore’s first independent, non-government charity.
  • The first Mercy Relief disaster response team deploys to Bahorok in North Sumatra, Indonesia, which has been hit by devastating flash floods. A four-man team delivers basic necessities to survivors.
  • Then-President of Singapore, His Excellency S R Nathan, presents Mercy Relief with the Singapore International Foundation Award in recognition of the goodwill Singapore has demonstrated abroad.
  • Mercy Relief’s international programme expands to include sustainable development and risk mitigation projects centering on five key areas: water and sanitation, shelter, healthcare, basic education and sustainable livelihood. Mercy Relief implements its first projects in Indonesia and China, with projects in the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia planned over the following five years.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Aceh Floods by deploying a 4-men medical team to provide 40 water filter systems, medical supplies and assistance to the victims.
  • In response to the Jakarta Floods, Mercy Relief, with the help of ARUS, sent close to $67,000 worth of aid supplies to the flood victims.
  • UN and Canada’s IDRC invite Mercy Relief to share its reflections and analyses of its experiences on the ground in a book titled “Peacetime Strategies for Disaster Risk Mitigation”. Mercy Relief submits five articles.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Sumatra Earthquake, by supporting evacuation services, distributed food supplies and water to victims of the quake, and partnered with SingHealth to deploy a medical relief team to the region.
  • Mercy Relief collaborates with Singapore Polytechnic to launch Singapore’s first dedicated course for training humanitarian aid workers. The Diploma-Plus Certificate Programme in Humanitarian Affairs provides an understanding of how the sector works and promotes civic and social responsibility.
  • Mercy Relief launches MOVE, an overseas volunteer expeditions programme, which aims to develop volunteers into regional humanitarians.
  • In light of the Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, Mercy Relief raised $2.6 million, deployed a disaster response team. camped out in disaster-stricken regions for 5 months, and implemented the Tohoku Livelihood and Recovery program to train individuals to operate heavy machinery.
  • Mercy Relief organised a seminar on “Natural Disasters and Humanity” on 21 May 2014, where more than 200 leaders and representatives from various faith, civic and governmental organisations, and diplomats from several embassies attended the Seminar.
  • Mercy Relief dispatched 15 water filtration systems and about 30,000 Meals-Ready-to-Eat to the victims of the floods in the Philippines caused by massive floods across Southeast Asia.
  • Mercy Relief hosts the President of Singapore, His Excellency Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, at a project site in Magelang, Indonesia, which had been badly hit by the 2010 eruption of Mt. Merapi. It is the first time a Singapore Head of State has visited one of Mercy Relief’s overseas projects.
  • Mercy Clan was launched on 5 December 2012, in conjunction with International Volunteer Day, to thank volunteers for their efforts and increase public awareness on their contributions to the organization.
  • Mercy Relief is officially appointed one of 10 national Civil Society Organisations (CSO) under the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) – Civil Society Organisation Partnership Framework. This Framework defines the ‘rules of engagement’ between the ACDM and CSOs, and enables CSOs like Mercy Relief to play a bigger role in the delivery of programmes that support disaster risk reduction and management in the region.
  • A Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Mercy Relief and AgPlus, to develop PurHeart, an innovative water solution to support communities affected by disasters and poverty.
  • Mercy Relief signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), where it will run a joint undergraduate module on humanitarian affairs and internship placements with Mercy Relief.
  • Mercy Relief was acknowledged in the ASEAN Declaration for Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment for its partnership with the government of Brunei Darussalam on the implementation of a regional community service project by ASEAN Young Professionals Volunteer Corps (AYPVC).
  • Held in conjunction with UN World Water day, Mercy Relief’s first Water outreach event saw participants participating in a 5-station obstacle course, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of access to clean water in disaster-stricken areas.
  • Mercy Relief disburses S$400,000 worth of aid to victims of the Gaza Conflict, by working with the Palestine Red Crescent Society and the Palestinian Wefaq Association
 

  • Mercy Relief collaborates with Nanyang Polytechnic’s School of Interactive & Digital Media to launch Code Blue, a  game which which aims to educate youths on disaster relief.
  • In response to the Nepal Earthquake, Mercy Relief sends its first medical mission and disaster response team to the country, raised $1.5 million in donations, distributed emergency supplies and completed a transitional shelter project, which benefited more than 2550 people in Nepal.
  • The first humanitarian run in Singapore was organised by Mercy Relief on 10 October 2015, where it simulates the experiences of a victim of a natural disaster for the participants.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Myanmar Floods by deploying its first response team to the country, to distribute food supply to flood-stricken communities in Rakhine.
  • Mercy Relief appointed its first female Executive Director, Miss Zhang Tingjun, the co-founder and director of The Chain Reaction Project, and a council member for the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

 

 

  • Mercy Relief responded to 6 major regional disasters and funded 12 sustainable development projects across 8 countries.
  • This past year we developed a whole new look to represent the modernization and direction of our charity yet retained the core values of compassion and care.
  • This included a rebranding and upgrade of our infrastructure from technology to office space.
  • We even changed the way we report to stakeholders and donors to ensure timeliness and transparency.
  • We forged over 14 new partnerships and set a record high of 220 training hours to up skill our team as we prepare for the latest industry challenges.

 

 

  • Mercy Relief was recognised by the National Council of Social Services (NCSS) as an associate member in light of its programmes and activities that supported the social sector.
  • Mercy Relief launched a multi-country relief effort to reach out to survivors in Nepal, India and Bangladesh in response to the South Asia Floods. On the ground, the team provided urgent supplies such as food, clean water and non-food items to nearly 6,000 beneficiaries to date, across the affected communities.
  • The humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State, Myanmar, has seen close to 900,000 people flee across the border into Bangladesh. Mercy Relief reached out to more than 14,700 refugees in its response phase, with emergency supplies including tents, solar lamps and dignity kits for women in the Bulukhali Makeshift Settlement.
  • To commemorate Mercy Relief’s 15th year anniversary, MR organises the Ground Zero Carnival, Singapore’s first humanitarian event to showcase its collective impact over the decade.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Lombok Earthquake where four large earthquakes and at least 1,500 aftershocks had struck the island. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 500 people and injured thousands. To date, over 1,000 households have benefited from the provision of emergency supplies and healthcare services.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Kerala Floods where heavy rains have caused some of the region’s worst flooding in nearly a century, causing almost 400 fatalities and displacing thousands. MR focused its efforts on the distribution of food, clean water supply and hygiene kits, benefitting 500 households to date.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Sulawesi Earthquake that has caused a tsunami and major soil liquefaction which contributed to the devastation. During the relief period, MR provided aid through mobile clinics, supplementary feeding services as well as food and non-food items.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the Sunda Strait Tsunami on Christmas Eve to distribute hygiene kits, food and non-food items to the affected communities.
  • Mercy Relief received The Straits Times Asian of the Year award in recognition of its humanitarian work in the region.
 

  • Mercy Relief responded to five major regional disasters and funded six sustainable development projects across six countries impacting and transforming the lives of 97295 survivors.
  • This past year we’ve changed the look and feel of our impact reports to donors and stakeholders to ensure clarity, timeliness and transparency.
  • In July 2019, Mercy Relief appointed Ms Carol Lee as its Executive Director.
  • Mercy Relief mounted regional COVID-19 relief operations across Nepal, India and Indonesia, providing food assistance, hygiene support, clean water facilities, medical aid and public health awareness activities, reaching over 30,000 individuals in hard-to-reach communities.
  • Mercy Relief held its first-ever virtual Ground Zero Run in 2020, engaging ove 500 members of the public and raising more than $270,000 to support our humanitarian efforts.
  • Mercy Relief launched the inaugural ‘Gift of Giving’ campaign on 16 November 2020, raising over $30,000 in the spirit of giving during the festive season.
  • Mercy Relief continued pandemic relief efforts in the Philippines, providing food items and hygiene kits to vulnerable communities in Western Visayas.
  • A second consecutive virtual Ground Zero event was organised with a new ‘Bike’ category – engaging over 300 participants with the support of more than 20 community partners and sponsors.
  • Mercy Relief appointed Ms Angelina Ong as Executive Director.
  • Mercy Relief delivered one of its most extensive multi-country disaster response efforts to date, supporting communities affected by Tropical Storm Megi, the South Asia floods, and the West Java earthquake.
  • Long-term recovery was carried out in Siargao Island, Philippines, restoring critical WASH facilities, revitalising livelihoods, and strengthening local disaster-response systems to safeguard future resilience.
  • Mercy Relief presented its field experience and sustainability programming to senior defence leaders at the 21st FPDA Conference, fostering deeper humanitarian collaboration.
  • Mercy Relief responded to the 7.8 magnitude Türkiye-Syria earthquake, providing winter relief, hot meals and temporary container homes for over 3,000 affected individuals.
  • Mercy Relief launched the first iteration of its ‘Hope for Gaza, West Bank and Palestine Refugees’ campaign and was met with an outpour of support from the community, enabling vital aid for over 100,000 individuals in Gaza.
  • Mercy Relief participated in the National Consignment to bring 5 tonnes of medical supplies for affected Palestinian families.
  • In tandem, Mercy Relief responded to the 7.4 earthquake in Surigao Del Sur, Philippines, the eruption to Mount Marapi and continued its recovery support for families affected by Typhoon Rai.
  • Mercy Relief held its 20th Anniversary Fundraising Gala Dinner, along with the launch of its limited addition watch designed and supported by Humism.
  • Mercy Relief appointed Muhammad Ashik as its Executive Director.
  • Mercy Relief strengthened its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including 2 ground missions to oversee relief movement into Gaza from Egypt, reaching almost 300,000 individuals with life-saving assistance.
  • Mercy Relief was conferred IPC status and admitted into the OHAS scheme, offering enhanced tax-deductibility for both local and overseas humanitarian donations.
  • Mercy Relief launched the Mercy in Action campaign to engage Singaporean students in the humanitarian space.
  • Mercy Relief’s medical mission was the 1st team from Singapore to reach hard-hit Sagaing in Myanmar, delivering aid in the aftermath of the 7.7-magnitude Mandalay earthquake.
  • Mercy Relief contributed to Singapore’s national humanitarian assistance to Gaza, supporting the 7th and 9th tranches of humanitarian aid deliveries coordinated through the RSAF and the Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC).
  • Mercy Relief conducted a ground mission to the West Bank and continued humanitarian aid to Gaza under the 3rd iteration of the ‘Hope for Gaza’ campaign, providing comprehensive relief across food, WASH, livelihood, and shelter support.
  • With strong donor support, Mercy Relief initiated its Typhoon Preparedness Programme, allowing rapid relief deployment during Typhoon Kalmaegi, Typhoon Opong, and the 6.8-magnitude Cebu earthquake. The team also responded to extensive floods in Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, closely monitoring needs to inform future relief and recovery programming.

Connect With Us

Follow Mercy Relief on social media.