Archive for the ‘Crisis’ Category
Posted on June 16, 2009 - by Frank
Bangladesh – Cyclone Aila – Putting a Human Face on a Disaster
Personal Journal #2 of Nancy E. Smith, RN Humedica and Koinonia. Click here to read #1.
Nancy Smith shares more of her experiences of helping the people of Bangladesh following cyclone Aila; working alongside TEAR Fund’s partners.
Tues June 9
We depart today in early daylight to allow for the two-hour boat ride to reach an area that has been cut off by flood waters. Our view from the boat provides a different perspective…mud and stick huts line the embankment.
Posted on June 12, 2009 - by Frank
Sri Lanka – Images from the war zone, military victory parade and an IDP camp
The following images from Sri Lanka include a few from within the war zone during the last days of the civil war and the defeat of the Tamil Tigers (they are the images towards the end). We also have images from the war zone that we chose not to include due to their graphic nature – they are heart breaking. The war zone pictures were taken by an unnamed priest.
Also included are images from the Sri Lankan military parade that was held to celebrate the defeat of the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) and pictures taken from within one of the restricted IDP (Internally Displaced People) camps where various aid agencies are assisting. They were taken by a person who shall remain anonymous.
Posted on June 11, 2009 - by Frank
Cyclone Aila – Images from the Field
The following are images from Bangladesh provided courtesy of Koinonia, our partner working on flood relief after Cyclone Aila, and also Dieter Schmidt. If you wish to use these images please contact us for permission first - frank (@) tearfund.org.nz
To read the diary of a humanitarian worker in the situation check out our post written by Nancy E. Smith from hurmedica.
Click on the images for the full size view.
Posted on June 11, 2009 - by Frank
Cyclone Aila in Bangladesh – Diary of a Humanitarian
TEAR Fund is meeting the needs of the suffering after Cyclone Aila struck Bangladesh last month through its partnership with the Integral Alliance and its local partner Koinonia. Medical field worker with humedica, Nancy E. Smith, tells the story of the work being done through her personal diary.
Personal Journal from Nancy E. Smith – humedica Bangladesh Team 2009
May 31, 2009 “Our God is the God of “suddenly´s…”
The southwest coastal area of Bangladesh survives the winds of Cyclone Aila, but suddenly floodwaters destroy homes, crops, and families are devastated.
Three friends and humedica colleagues are having an evening meal in an outdoor restaurant in Cologne, remembering the past missions with humedica, people and places, and then suddenly an SMS appears… there is need in Bangladesh. Looks of wonder on each face, knowing that is not a polite invitation from God, it is His clear call. Without hesitation, the three are now a humedica team.
Posted on May 22, 2009 - by Frank
up:link – Podcast 8 – Ian McInnes – The latest from Sri Lanka
In this edition of the Podcast, with the Sri Lankan government declaring the defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the Red Cross pulling back from it’s aid operations with the victims of recent events due to the government restricting access, we thought we would catch up with Ian McInnes, one of our programme officers and the former director of our partner organisation in Sri Lanka to get an update on the latest events and TEAR Fund’s connection to the area.
up:link - The TEAR Fund Podcast
To support the work of TEAR Fund, visit www.tearfund.org.nz or call us on 0800 800 777
Posted on April 20, 2009 - by Frank
Sri Lanka Update
This just appeared in the Guardian UK:
Hundreds of civilians are being killed or seriously injured in artillery and gun attacks as the Sri Lankan army attempts to finish off the last Tamil Tiger rebels trapped in a shrinking pocket of land.
Injured civilians lucky enough to get out have told of carnage in this so-called “no-fire zone” – a 17 sq km strip of coast where the Tigers are penned in with their backs to the sea.
Horrific stories of limbs ripped off by shellfire and bodies buried where they fell are emerging, despite the government’s efforts to hide the scale of the killing by confining the injured to hospitals in a military area around the government-declared no-fire zone, from which the media are strictly excluded.
Posted on April 7, 2009 - by Frank
Zimbabwean Death Camps (video)
The following footage was taken inside the prison system of Zimbabwe and clearly shows the shocking conditions prisoners are living in. The MDC (Movement for Democratic Change), part of the present power sharing government, comment in the video. The story is from Al Jazeera and some of the content may disturb:
In the future we will share information about the new partnership TEAR Fund has formed with an organisation in Zimbabwe to help bring relief and support development.
Posted on April 1, 2009 - by Frank
Al Jazeera – Philippines hostage deadline passes
Excerpts from the article:
A state of emergency has been declared on the southern Philippines island of Jolo after a deadline imposed by kidnappers holding three aid workers hostage expired.
The Abu Sayyaf group had threatened to behead one of three Red Cross workers held hostage if the military did not pull back its forces from their stronghold by 1400 local time (0600 GMT) on Tuesday.
There has been no word from the group since the deadline passed, although they had earlier warned there would be no extensions.
Posted on March 10, 2009 - by Frank
Poorer Nations Face Financing Gap
Al Jazeera reported this today:
Developing countries face a financing gap of $270bn to $700bn this year as trade income dwindles and rich nations vie for capital to deal with a global slump, the World Bank says.
Resources of international financial institutions would not be sufficient to meet their needs as more and more emerging and developing countries are hit, the World Bank said on Monday.
“Should a more pessimistic outcome occur, unmet financing needs will be enormous,” the World Bank said in a paper prepared for meetings of the G20 group of countries in London in April.
Last week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said developing countries would need $25bn, and possibly as much as $140bn, in 2009 to meet their financing needs.
The World Bank said the crisis could have long-lasting repercussions for developing countries, which are contending with a drop in exports as world trade shrinks for the first time since 1982.
To read the full article, click here.
Posted on February 25, 2009 - by Frank
Dey Krahorm Eviction – Eyewitness Account
The following was written by Kristin Jack, team leader for Servants Cambodia and an eyewitness to the violent eviction of slum residents and the demolition of their homes that took place on Saturday January 24th.
The history of Cambodia is littered with tragedies brought about by the oppression of the weak by the powerful. Power, and it’s abuse, seem to be a constant theme that spreads its destructive influences through all levels of society here.
On the morning of Saturday, January 24th, I witnessed yet another display of this ‘naked power’ being used to crush those who were weak and poor, in order that the rich and powerful of this city might take something from those who already have so little.
Posted on February 24, 2009 - by Frank
Humanitarian Crisis Facing Families Evicted from Cambodian Slum
The following was written by a humanitarian organisation in Cambodia. It outlines the eviction of families from a slum (Dey Krahorm) in late January and the ongoing abuse of their rights. I am looking into it further and examining our options to lobby for the rights of these people. Expect to hear more.
In the early hours of Saturday, 24 January 2009- assisted by a large contingent of armed police and military police- hundreds of workers contracted by the 7 NG Group razed the Dey Krahorm community. The demolition gangs completely destroyed the remaining houses and market stalls located in the community, in many cases bulldozing the personal belongings and documents of the residents into the ground, before the families were able to rescue them.
Posted on February 20, 2009 - by Frank
Violent Eviction at Dey Krahorm (Video)
This video is a compilation of footage captured by human rights monitors on January 24, 2009 during the violent eviction at Dey Krahorm (Cambodia). Video footage courtesy of Platapus, LICADHO, LICADHO Canada, Bridges Across Borders, and Karl Bille.
This coming week we will be outlining more details and giving you personal stories of what took place and the current situation of those forced from their homes. We will be looking for ways that we can advocate on behalf of the victims of this situation. We will be raising our voice and as we do, we ask you to raise yours as well. There is no question about this event, it is an injustice.
Posted on February 10, 2009 - by Frank
Sri Lanka’s Tragic War
Article by: Ian McInnes – Country Director World Concern Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s three decade old conflict between the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) and the Sri Lankan Government is at its fiercest. 70,000 have already lost their lives in a separatist struggle for control of ‘Eelam’, a self-designated homeland for Tamils by the LTTE. Having lost control of the East of the island in 2007 the LTTE now faces a fight for survival in an ever decreasing space in the North.
Posted on February 9, 2009 - by Steve
Myanmar After the Cyclone
Thoughts after a recent trip to Myanmar.
When Cyclone Nargis hit the southern most end of the Irriwaddy Delta in Myanmar, on May 2nd most of us were fast asleep. Some may have heard news of that a cyclone was bering down on the country from the Andaman sea. Just another bit of weather news in a far flung part of world.
The village headman whom I was talking to had seen nine months earlier the wall of water coming. At 6 am a tidal swell of dark water, trees, flotsam, animal and human bodies , some alive and others dead varying in reported height of up to six meters scoured clear the low lying island shredding palm trees into sticks, erasing villages and polluting the fresh water. All around the wind howling at speeds of 200 kph. The only escape was either by climbing up a sturdy tree, turning quickly to any high ground or grabbing anything that could float and ride it out. In one village alone that I visited, out of 1,000 residents, only 7 survived. Cyclone Nargis was literally hell of earth. Approximately 140,000 deaths and thousand still missing.
Posted on January 8, 2009 - by Frank
Urgent: Support Families in Gaza through TEAR Fund
With reports saying that 46% of Palestinian deaths in this assault on Gaza are women and children and the humanitarian crisis there now being seen as a catastrophe, I would urge you to consider supporting this appeal.
TEAR Fund New Zealand has launched an emergency appeal for Gaza in the wake of mounting civilian casualties and internal displacement caused by Israel’s response to Hamas’ rocket attacks.
Executive Director of TEAR Fund, Stephen Tollestrup said: “The Israeli response to Hamas militants lacks any sense of proportion and as a result, the ordinary Palestinians of Gaza are facing a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Much of the civic and municipal infrastructure of the strip has been destroyed and essential resources such as water, medicine, fuel, clothing, emergency rations and shelter are needed immediately.”
The appeal working through TEAR Fund’s non-militant Christian partners will give special attention to children and aged caught in the conflict.
“The attacks have come after months of what can only be described as a blockade of Gaza, leaving the people there already under-resourced and in poor condition.”
TEAR Fund calls on both Israel and Hamas to immediately end hostilities.
Donations can be made through TEAR Fund’s emergency appeal by clicking here, or by phoning 0800 800 777.
Posted on December 1, 2008 - by Frank
World AIDS Day 2008
Living in Aotearoa/New Zealand it’s easy to go about life without giving HIV/AIDS much of a thought if it doesn’t directly affect our lives. Whilst it exists in Aotearoa/New Zealand, probably to an extent that may surprise some people, and whilst the rate of infection with other STI’s in the public shows signs that HIV could spread rapidly in our country if it were to enter certain sectors of society unnoticed, it is generally not something that affects the day to day lives of the average citizen here.
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