A monthly news bulletin that takes a look at development issues, provides analysis of global justice issues and keeps you updated with the work of CWS. An alternative to mainstream media sources. Past issues can be read here

 

December 2014

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For Your Diary

25 December  Please donate to the 2014 Christmas Appeal.

1 January  Fast for the Climate — join the interfaith initiative.

We wish you a happy Christmas and a new year filled with hope and opportunity. Thank you for your generous support in 2014.
Pauline, David, Emma, Gillian, Lyn and Trish.

The office will close at noon 24 December and reopen on 5 January. If an emergency strikes we will respond.  Watch our facebook page and the website.

Stars of this year’s Christmas Appeal, Nicole and Gilbert survived another typhoon on Jinamoc Island in early December.  (Photo:ACT/ P Jeffrey)

Invest in People
A little over a year after Typhoon Haiyan, residents of Jinamoc Island took shelter on the hill in the middle of the island in advance of Typhoon Hagupit (known locally as Ruby). Fortunately no one lost their lives but people were very afraid after the trauma of last year’s much bigger storm.

 

Typhoon Hagupit: Christmas comes with Food

By the time Typhoon Hagupit hit Eastern Samar on December 6, it had lowered in intensity — but with wind and 13 hours of rain it destroyed more than 8,000 homes and caused damage to over 140,000. ACT Alliance including NCCP packed supplies and prepositioned staff as part of their work with affected communities. A week later they distributed 4,450 food parcels including to Hilda Alamas from Dolores (below). “We will be four people in my house for Christmas, and this is enough to feed us for 7 -8 days.” Her family evacuated to the school before the typhoon but decided to return when they found there was no food or water. The roof of their home was torn off by the typhoon but Hilda and her husband braved the rain to fix most of it.  (Photo:ACT/M Morsi)

Donations to the Philippines Typhoon Appeal will assist families recovering from both disasters.

A 118 house village built by ACT in Indonesia for people that refused to relocate from Aceh’s coast.   Photo: ACT/P Jeffrey

South Asia Tsunami at 10
Ten years after one of CWS’s largest emergency appeals, our partners who were directly affected use the 2004 tsunami as a benchmark. They have advocated for coastal communities who lost homes and livelihoods and helped many back on their feet Thanks to your generous donations CWS sent nearly $1 million for supplies, healthcare, new homes, advocacy and rehabilitation to partners in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. ACT Alliance raised US$93.1 million in its appeal.

 

Global Emergencies Total
A major global report estimates an average of 27 million people a year have been displaced by natural disasters from 2008 – 13. This number has doubled in the last 40 years and points to the growing importance of stronger community – based and natural resilience to prevent the worst impacts of natural disasters.

 

ACT now for Climate Justice

Two weeks of talks failed to make much headway in climate negotiations. 15,000 people including ACT Alliance joined the people’s march in Lima, Peru where UN talks were held. ACT’s Mattias Söderburg said many opportunities for progress were missed. “We won’t leave the poor and vulnerable people to fight climate change on their own.  Some governments here may have, but we will not.” UN talks resume in February.
Photo: LWF/S Hawkey

 

Pray for the Middle East
The human toll and tragedy of conflict throughout the region is a cause for grave concern. ACT Alliance members and churches are stretched in their efforts to respond to many families in need. As we retell the Christmas story please pray and support their efforts to build peace.

Stop Spread of Ebola
ACT Alliance and churches continue to respond with medical care, education on preventing the spread of the virus, and food and supplies to quarantined families and orphans. Ebun James De-Kam from Council of Churches in Sierra Leone asks for prayers for front line medical staff, patients, and survivors as they put their lives back in order, and people engaged in community sensitisation

Core Humanitarian Standards
The Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability was launched earlier this month by the Humanitarian Accountability Partnership of which CWS is an associate and ACT Alliance a full member. This new standard will improve the delivery of assistance and help responders be more accountable to the communities they serve.

South Sudan: Pray for Peace
One year after hostilities broke out in South Sudan, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned fighting between the two factions could intensify during the dry season. UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon called for “an inclusive, power sharing arrangement” in a conflict that has displaced nearly 1.9 million people.

Relationships Coordinator
CWS welcomes David Lawson as Relationships Coordinator based at 409 Great South Road, Auckland Monday to Thursday. A Baptist, he comes with a strong background in fundraising and can be contacted at (09)571915.

Gifted
It’s never too late to choose an ecard from Gifted!

About Update
Update provides news, information and stories.  Reproduction of items is encouraged with attribution to CWS.  Current and back issues are available.