HOTLINE - week of May 08, 2006

The news from Darfur is hopeful regarding the signing of a peace deal between the government of Sudan and the largest of Darfur's three rebel groups. The deal calls for the disbanding of government-backed "janjaweed" militias, responsible for the atrocities that prompted the U.S. to term the crisis "genocide." Two smaller rebel groups have so far refused the terms of the accord.

On April 30, thousands of people gathered in Washington, San Francisco, and other cities across the U.S. to urge the Bush administration to do more to help bring about peace.

"Already hundreds of thousands have died. The time for political posturing has expired. The time for decisive action is now," CWS Executive Director Rev. John L. McCullough said at the Washington event.

The "Save Darfur" Washington and San Francisco rallies were supported by CWS and more than 150 other advocacy organizations, in concert with the national SaveDarfur.org and the Bay Area Darfur Coalition.

Church World Service joins with people of conscience the world over in praying for a conclusion to this vicious conflict and for a just peace in Darfur. Help support the urgent humanitarian needs in Darfur, please visit our online donation page.

It has been seven months since the devastating earthquake of October 2005 that claimed some 80,000 lives. Having weathered the winter in tents and other temporary shelters, thousands of survivors now need to rebuild lives and livelihoods. Many face the future without loved ones; thousands of families lost their sole breadwinner.

In partnership, CWS has provided human and material resources, including more than 25,000 tents, to the relief effort in four areas of Mansehra District, and in Battagram, Kohistan, and Shangla Districts, Pakistan – reaching more than 30,000 families.

CWS is now developing basic rehabilitation activities needed for the resettlement of people affected by the quake; assisting survivors in reconstructing houses, restoring livelihoods, recovering livestock, providing water, sanitation, health, and psychosocial assistance; and aiding local groups in recovery work. And, CWS plans to help some 6,000 people transition to more permanent housing.

In addition, some 1,000 laborers are benefiting from employment opportunities in a housing construction program that trains laborers for construction work – building houses or other structures, such as schools or community centers.

Some 24 villages will benefit from renovated or repaired water systems, and more than 10,000 families (about 70,000 people) will directly benefit from implementation of a health and hygiene program.

CWS is also assisting single, female-headed households and widows with livelihood development support including livestock.

For more information on the CWS response, visit the CWS South Asia Earthquake Response page.

In April, hundreds of families fled their homes as thousands of acres of farmland were swamped in Serbia, Romania, and Hungary, when the Danube River broke through flood protection. Tens of thousands more people are at risk.

In Serbia's Smederevo district, 450 families who survived the floods -- some 2,250 persons in all, including 900 Roma people -- are coping with lost or heavily damaged homes, and other losses.

CWS is starting relief distributions -- including food parcels and personal hygiene items -- for 1,000 flood survivors who are living at the Red Cross home and with host families in Smederevo district. Each food parcel contains a month's supply of powdered milk, oil, sugar, flour, canned meat, and other items.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

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