HOTLINE - week of July 16, 2007

Like many tenant farmers in flood-affected parts of Pakistan, Nawaz and his family have lost their roof, their entire crop, and their goats.

Even before the recent storms and flooding, they eked out a difficult existence. Now, they find themselves in an even more precarious position, and need immediate assistance.

Thus far, Church World Service has provided 250 food packages and 320 plastic sheets for families in Gadap, and 500 plastic sheets to the Thatta area, both in southwestern Sindh Province, Pakistan, and is planning to distribute 1,000 food packages and 500 plastic sheets in Turbat, southwestern Balochistan Province.

In India, which is also suffering from heavy flooding, Church World Service partner Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA) is responding with a feeding program and distribution of relief materials for some 5,000 families in the affected areas, and plans to repair five damaged schools. CWS is seeking funds to assist CASA's efforts in India.

Severe flooding has caused extensive damage in Texas; 44 counties are eligible for state disaster aid, and six have been declared federal disaster sites. Mobile home parks appear to be particularly hard hit by flooding. In addition, migrants with limited English skills may have trouble navigating government assistance programs and getting help.

In northeastern Oklahoma, two counties--Washington and Ottawa--have been declared federal disaster areas due to flooding. Native American families represent a large percentage of those in the Oklahoma flood-affected area.

Church World Service is in contact with the faith community and is assessing needs in Texas and Oklahoma. An initial shipment of 135 CWS Hygiene Kits is being provided to Catholic Charities in Austin for distribution to families in need in Texas, and CWS will continue to respond as needed.

For every dollar Africa receives in aid, it pays out $2.30 in debt service. Church World Service joins with the Jubilee USA Network in calling for members of Congress to support improved creditor behavior and debt cancellation in impoverished countries by co-sponsoring the Jubilee Act.

For more on this issue, and information on how to Speak Out about debt cancellation with your members of Congress, visit the Peace and Justice section of the CWS website.

New homes are just now beginning to replace the charred remains of buildings in Canton 10, a province in western Bosnia Herzegovina. "Sarajevo has been rebuilt," says Church World Service Balkans director Vitali Vorona, "but not many places look like Sarajevo. In Canton 10, it looks like the war was finished yesterday."

The CWS Balkans: Build a Village program, a multi-year effort, is helping rural communities to recover by empowering them to create their own path. A group of community leaders selected the first project in the Canton 10 municipality of Bosansko Grahovo--a veterinary service project to help local farmers maintain the health of their livestock. Healthy livestock means farmers can operate sustainable farms, and better provide for their families.

"The only way for us to survive is to become self-sufficient," says Dušan Radivojša, a member of the Cmi Lug village committee in Bosansko Grahovo. For updates about this and other current CWS projects around the world, visit www.churchworldservice.org/news/.

The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate in Gaza and the West Bank due to recent factional fighting in Gaza and ongoing political and economic uncertainty in the troubled region.

Church World Service is helping to support the efforts of the Middle East Council of Churches and local partners in providing cash grants, supplementary food, and health services to the most vulnerable families in Gaza and the West Bank.

Food assistance will be provided to 9,500 families, averaging six people each. Women and children will be granted partial coverage of medical fees and medicines in three clinics in Gaza; 500 chronically ill persons will gain access to medical facilities or other access to health care in the West Bank; and five additional health personnel will provide better care to families in need. For more information, read: Occupied Palestinian Territories / Gaza and West Bank crisis.

Mount Gamkonora, in North Maluku, erupted on July 9, and has displaced more than 9,000 people. Church World Service is providing (7/14) an initial 300 blankets and 300 plastic mats, and is working with local partners to distribute emergency supplies and assess further needs.

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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