 "World Vision supported over 173,000, last year. (Representational Image: AFP)")
Hong Kong has helped 4.5 million people in need worldwide over the past year through the relief agency World Vision, its president Andrew Morley said, as he called on the city to become a global humanitarian aid hub. Morley highlighted that government funding for humanitarian aid has dropped by around 25 per cent in 2025 compared with 2024, even as global conflicts and natural disasters have increased the demand for support.
Morley described the past 15 years as an “imperfect storm”, with the number of children in need rising sharply while relief funds have been cut. He thanked Hongkongers for their contributions, noting that the city’s population of about 7.5 million had directly supported 4.5 million people worldwide during the financial year ending September 30, 2024.
Focus on children and future plans
The city’s donations have helped children in countries across Asia, including Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal, as well as in East African nations such as Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. World Vision supported over 335 million vulnerable children globally in the same period and raised about $73 million in Hong Kong, with 73.4 per cent coming from public donations, reported the South China Morning Post.
Morley highlighted local initiatives, such as the “Let the hungry be heard” campaign, and shared the story of a Kenyan girl named Esther, who was rescued and educated through World Vision projects funded by Hong Kong supporters.
The organisation also provides support for children with special educational needs and nutrition challenges in Hong Kong, while mainland programmes focus on children with disabilities, those left behind by migrant parents, and migrant children, helping about 173,000 people on the mainland and 4,200 in Hong Kong in the year to September 30.
Looking ahead, Morley said World Vision plans to prioritise resources for the most vulnerable and apply artificial intelligence (AI) to improve disaster prediction and community response. He envisioned that within 10 years, every project worldwide would incorporate AI to enhance the organisation’s impact.