Over the years Helping Hands has reached out with "helping hands" in a variety of disasters and emergencies. Major disasters seem to be increasing recently, especially in South Asian and Southeast African nations, where most of the projects currently supported by Helping Hands are located. Emergency situations in which Helping Hands and partners have offered assistance include flood disasters (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mozambique) and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (Sri Lanka, India), earthquakes (Haiti, Pakistan, Turkey, India), refugee disasters (Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India), cold waves and famines (Bangladesh).
Helping Hands offers short-term assistance including food relief, household items, hygiene articles, emergency shelters and medical help. Many local partners are also specialized in trauma counselling and provide vital logistical assistance. But Helping Hands and their partners are primarily concerned with rehabilitation, long-term help and sustainable transformation, not just short-term assistance. This often includes the reconstruction of schools, houses and infrastructure. In many areas long-term projects follow which include child development centres, health care, self-help groups and awareness training for women, as well as community development programs and income generating ventures.