On a field visit to Bangladesh in September, I asked one of our doctors, Jasmine, why she had left her well-paying job in Dhaka to work with Rohingya refugees in Kutupalong, the world’s largest refugee camp. Her answer was the same one I’ve heard again and again: “By helping them, I get so much back,” she said. “I feel so much more fulfilled in my job with Medair.”

Our people-focused mission in 2019 was made possible thanks to an extraordinary team that included 1,700 staff, 5,400 volunteers, thousands of prayer partners, partnerships with like-minded organisations, and the unwavering support of our funding partners.

Today, we look ahead to a future full of new and uncertain challenges. Over 168 million people needed humanitarian assistance before the COVID-19 pandemic. Medair has taken strategic actions to respond to a future characterised by major crises caused by outbreaks, climate change, mass displacement, and natural disasters. We are decentralising some of our global support services and increasing the responsibility of local offices. We are investing in a culture of innovation and forging productive partnerships with universities, private sector, governments, NGOs, the UN, foundations, churches, and communities. We remain committed to providing high-quality services to people in need, attaining certification to the Core Humanitarian Standard in 2019.

Through it all, people are at the centre of our actions. Not beneficiaries, not cases, but people. People like Moira whom I met in Madagascar this year. She rejoiced as she told me she was able to get water in her village for the first time in her life, saving her hours of walking each day. Remembering Moira brings home the life-changing impact we are able to make when we work together and place our trust in God.