HOTLINE - week of December 25, 2006

In this season of hope, Church World Service prays for peace and well-being for neighbors here at home and around the world. Merry Christmas!

It has been more than a year since the October 2005 earthquake hit Pakistan. Tens of thousands of displaced families are facing another winter in tents despite some progress in rebuilding the affected region. In its response during the winter season, Church World Service is focusing mainly on providing food packages--containing wheat flour, rice, peas and beans, cooking oil, sugar, tea, salt, matches, and soap--and shelter kits for up to 5,000 vulnerable families (some 35,000 people) in remote, rural areas and to internally displaced persons in tent camps.

CWS is also setting up infrastructure in Kashtera camp for families who will be there this winter, including restoring water supply, cleaning and filling water storage tanks, setting up latrines, and arranging for waste disposal for up to five months.

In addition, for families who need medical care, CWS is providing health services in the camp and at various CWS-supported clinics throughout the winter, with extra medical staff and evening sessions.

Donate to the Pakistan Recovery

"If you want to help improve the conditions of a pastoral community, the most important investment is water," says Ephraim Kiragu, CWS disaster mitigation expert in East Africa.

The land is dry in the Narok District. "The valley is made of volcanic soils rich in minerals. It just needs water," Kiragu explains. A Masai community nearly 30 miles from the main road has benefited from a CWS Water for Life project.

The community had long been affected by drought, and women and girls needed to walk up to 12 miles to get water.

"Everywhere were dead carcasses. CWS-East Africa Director Daniel Tyler prepared a proposal for recovery, and not for simple food distribution. Sheep and goats were re-stocked in order to restore the community to a status where it didn't require ongoing help. This is the CWS key to sustainability," adds Kiragu.

A steering committee was created to involve local authorities. The group recovered earlier-built earth dams. And this year, CWS drilled a borehole for the community's use.

"God has created an oasis with CWS," says Joseph Paneiyio, secretary of the local steering committee.

The communities have extended their gratitude for the well by planting trees so that the water supplies do not dry up.

The site supplies 3,642 households and over 10,000 head of livestock. It is managed by the steering committee of 15 members, who raised the money to pay for the government permit to drill. The committee includes seven women. Said one, "If it were not for CWS, there could not be a well like this."

"We used to drink water that had typhoid," said water committee treasurer Honoria Naylishu. “These days we don't need to migrate, because we have clean water. We have no sickness since the borehole opened."

An important result of not needing to migrate is that girl children, responsible for fetching water, can now attend school. In another CWS program, a nearby school has been established and given supplies, resulting in two national student honorees.

"My joy is to find assistance in this desert – because we have really gotten something that has lifted our living standards. On behalf of the community we thank you because you have helped us," says the steering committee chairman. "Very long distances we used to travel to get water. God is great and is an almighty God that there is water here today. We see water coming from this rocky place."

Donate to the Africa Initiative - Water For Life

CWS is providing 400 CWS Baby Kits, as well as 273 UNICEF tarpaulins, to Mandailing, North Sumatra, in the wake of the December 18 earthquake there. Part of the distribution will be to an orphanage in the community of Aisyah.

Several people were killed and more than 600 homes were damaged or destroyed in the quake. More fatalities may be found as rubble is removed. CWS is also assessing needs in West Sumatra, where some 300 displaced families reportedly need assistance.

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.

Back to top