Emergency Response News Briefs

April 25, 2008 • Archive

“If there is a time when the presence of humanitarian assistance is required in Zimbabwe, it is now,” t he Rev. Forbes Matonga of CWS partner Christian Care -- Zimbabwe says of the current situation there. “We are on the verge of seeing the total collapse of what was once the most promising economy in Africa.” CWS continues its efforts to support the work of Christian Care through financial support of the agency's food assistance programs and by providing shipments of material resources for distribution to families and individuals in need.

Recent shipments in the Middle East allowed CWS and its partners to provide much needed medical equipment and supplies to 19 hospitals across Iraq, including one in the besieged Sadr City. The supplies range from surgical gloves, bandages and umbilical clamps, to IV supplies, blood infusion sets and thoracic drainage equipment. Needs are great, and CWS Middle East Coordinator Steve Weaver says, “the problem is one of safe distribution and access as well as hospitals lacking financial resources to purchase supplies.”

Pervasive flooding across the central U.S. hasn't necessarily meant sustained federal aid. Parts of Missouri and Illinois received government assistance following one flooding event, only to suffer a subsequent flood once repairs were made. Emergency Response Specialist Lura Cayton toured flooded areas in Illinois as CWS continues to assess damage and respond to requests for assistance.

Response to Midwest flooding continues, and to assist CWS recently supplied 200 CWS Blankets and 405 CWS Hygiene Kits to the Dequeen Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Dequeen, Ark. at a value of $5,860.

Other shipments of note include:

• to Moldova's Agency for Cooperation and Development, to which CWS supplied 990 CWS Baby Kits and 6,000 CWS School Kits at a value of $116,610;
• to CWS partner Church Aid Liberia, including 1,250 CWS Blankets, 600 CWS Baby Kits, 17,550 CWS Hygiene Kits and 975 CWS Sewing Kits at a value of $329,990;
• to the Dominican Republic, where CWS Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicana took receipt of 2,500 CWS Blankets, 1,500 CWS Baby Kits, 9,750 CWS School Kits, 22,635 CWS Hygiene Kits and other supplies at a value of $621,691.