HOTLINE - week of May 12, 2008

"Our strength is that we have local partners with and through whom we work, and they are able to have access to affected communities," says Donna Derr, CWS Director of Emergency Response. Church World Service is coordinating with partners to help meet needs of families affected by Cyclone Nargis, which devastated Myanmar's Irriwaddy Delta on May 3. More than 22,000 are dead and twice that number are missing. The death toll could rise above 100,000.

"Our local partners have been distributing water purification tablets, bottled water, and rice to families over the last few days from commodities either available in country or through [other] channels," Derr adds.

Initially, CWS is providing emergency relief assistance—water (purification supplies, bladders and tanks) and shelter supplies to assist some 3,000-4,000 families. And, in collaboration with Interchurch Medical Assistance, CWS is also providing basic medicines and medical supplies to equip clinics to treat some 100,000 people for up to three months.

Church World Service is seeking funds to help address the enormous scope of emergency and recovery needs of survivors.

In its ongoing response to the needs of those most vulnerable to the escalating costs of basic foods, Church World Service is putting additional focus on agricultural development, extension, and food security programs with struggling families.

A number of CWS projects are helping people to improve their food security. In India, for example, families in more than 3,500 villages in 13 states are learning strategies to increase both their consistent access to food and their incomes, with help from long-time CWS partner Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA).

Many of the most vulnerable people in India--dalits (members of the lowest caste in India), tribal and rural landless people, ethnic and religious minorities--suffer from social exclusion and lack of basic services. Women and girls are also impacted by gender discrimination. These groups find it difficult to provide for even their most basic needs.

With CASA’s help, farmers in these vulnerable groups are learning new sustainable agricultural practices in organic farming, composting, pest control, water management, and using indigenous vegetable seeds. Communities are working to strengthen local government. And women are gaining access to resources and taking advantage of new opportunities for earning a living.

Church World Service is providing 540 CWS Hygiene Kits for needs at All Tribes American Indian Charter School, in Valley Center, CA.

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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