Emergency Response News Briefs
May 11, 2006 • Archive
CWS-ERP Associate Director Participates in Live Broadcast on Darfur
Fidele Lumeya, CWS-ERP Associate Director for International Response, is participating in a live panel discussion on Voice of America - France's "Washington Forum." The focus is the current situation in Darfur, Sudan, and the recent signing of a peace accord agreement between the Sudanese government and the largest of several Darfur rebel factions. "It is important for the U.S. (and the world) to continue to support humanitarian relief efforts and peace-keeping operations in Darfur, and to put pressure on the Sudanese government to honor the peace accord," Lumeya says. The French language show is broadcast on radio and television stations in France and Francophone countries in Africa.
ERP Staffers, Associate Director Attend Annual NVOAD Conference in Raleigh, NC
Linda Reed Brown, ERP Associate Director for Domestic Response and CWS Disaster Response and Recovery Liaisons (DRRLs) Tim Johnson, Joann Hale, Heriberto Martinez, and Tom Davis are attending the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) annual conference in Raleigh, NC this week. The 30-year old organization coordinates disaster program planning of some 40 national charitable volunteer based disaster agencies in 52 states and territories. "Lighting Our Way Together" is the theme for this year's conference, with special training sessions conducted by FEMA, CWS, Katrina Aid Today (KAT), and Coordinated Assistance Network (CAN). Participants also have the opportunity to make important contacts with government, private business, and voluntary agencies active in disaster preparedness, planning, response and recovery.
Angola IERA Director Visits CWS Offices in Washington, DC
Antonio Miandi, director of humanitarian aid and development of CWS partner Ireja Evangélica Reformada de Angola (IERA) visited CWS offices in Washington, D.C., last week to discuss and evaluate the recent flood response and look at future goals and objectives of the CWS/IERA partnership in the wake of a 26 years of war and governmental neglect in the country. Antonio also met with other non-governmental agencies and USAID officers to raise awareness about the situation in Angola. Antonio affirmed the success of the CWS-IERA partnership in the recent flood response in Uige province. "Because of past work of CWS and its continued support over the years, we were able to respond quickly to the flood and make up for the shortfalls of the government response," he said. Antonio also urged continued support for medical intervention due to a rapidly expanding outbreak of cholera in the region.
CWS Material Resources Sent to Louisiana, Cuba, and Romania
ERP continues to send material assistance for Gulf Coast recovery efforts following the 2005 hurricane season. A recent shipment of blankets, and "Gifts of the Heart" Baby, Health, and Cleanup Buckets, valued at $12,790, went to bayou residents in Terrebonne Parish, LA. CWS has sent nearly $2 million in material resources -- a total of 141,178 kits and 57,070 blankets -- for Hurricane Katrina/Rita relief.
A CWS shipment containing 500 blankets, and "Gift of the Heart" Kits -- 6,000 School kits, 9,000 Health kits, and 1,050 sewing kits, a $222,314 value, was sent to long-time CWS partner the Cuban Council of Churches on-going programs assisting women and children.
CWS has donated 7,500 "Gifts of the Heart" School Kits, and 46,350 Health Kits, valued at $638,700 as part of on-going support for partner International Orthodox Christian Charities rehabilitation projects in impoverished and flood affected parts of Eastern Europe. These kits will assist at-risk youth in Romania, including HIV positive children, and those orphaned or abandoned.
CWS Spiritual and Emotional Care Specialists Provide Services in Gulf Coast
CWS Interfaith Trauma Response Training (ITRT) held a workshop on April 6 in Gulfport, Mississippi co-sponsored with the Mississippi Coast Interfaith Disaster Task Force. Sixty-five people attended the event from communities along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. Dr. Katrina Cochran and Dr. Alan Baroody presented at the workshop attended by clergy, social service providers from faith-based agencies and congregational lay leaders. Attendees also included Vietnamese and Lao social workers from Alabama. ITRT tentatively plans to return to the Gulf Coast the week of June 19 through 24 for additional workshops in the coastal region.