Global Emergency Update

Transcription

1 Global Emergency Update April 2015 Abir, who fled Syria, holds her 2-year-old daughter outside their tent in Lebanon. Photo by Sam Tarling for CRS Children in Sierra Leone benefit from Ebola education and prevention programs. Photo by Michael Stulman/CRS In eastern Ukraine, displaced elderly people struggle to survive. Photo by Volodymyr Nechaiev for CRS This Global Emergency Update provides the latest reports from around the world, where our field teams and local partners are carrying out vital emergency relief and recovery efforts. Our work is possible thanks to the generous support of private and public donors, the dedication of local partners, and the unwavering presence of Caritas and the local Catholic Church. AFRICA In West Africa, we have seen a positive turning point in the fight against Ebola, but the needs remain high. While the number of cases continues to decline, the outbreak has significantly harmed local economies, and health and education sectors. In Malawi, unusually heavy rainfall led to severe flooding in nearly half of the country, displacing 173,000 people and destroying crops, livestock and housing. CRS is responding with emergency support to help people recover. In Central African Republic, CRS teams and partners are working in difficult conditions to provide relief for thousands of people displaced by deadly conflict. Support includes shelter, food, living supplies, agricultural recovery and conflict resolution. In South Sudan, CRS is working closely with communities and the Church to help hundreds of thousands of people uprooted by conflict. Fear of hunger is on the rise. CRS is providing shelter, living supplies, water, seeds and farming tools. EUROPE In eastern Ukraine, CRS and Caritas Ukraine are providing relief in the escalating conflict that is uprooting people and claiming lives. Relief includes food, hygiene, living and winter supplies for some of the nearly 1.6 million displaced. MIDDLE EAST In Iraq, internal armed conflict has displaced more than 2 million people. CRS and Caritas Iraq are jointly providing displaced families with living supplies and relief items for shelter improvements and child-friendly spaces. Syrian refugees just marked the fourth year of the devastating civil war that has left lives and an entire country once the most stable in the Arab world in ruins. CRS is providing comprehensive relief to more than 500,000 people. In Gaza, intense fighting last summer between Israel and Palestinian militants killed more than 2,200 people and devastated infrastructure. CRS is working with communities and partners in Gaza to provide an array of critical support. Another emergency effort underway is on the southeast Asian island of Vanuatu, where CRS is supporting Caritas Australia, Caritas New Zealand and the local Church in their response to the typhoon that destroyed thousands of homes. The level of need for CRS support is becoming clear as partners carry out their response. So far, CRS has shipped 2,000 tarps and will support the Caritas Australian/Caritas New Zealand-led response as needed. 1

2 WEST AFRICA: EBOLA CRISIS In Guinea, hundreds of health care workers like Dr. Therese Soumaeor, left, have participated in training to reduce Ebola transmission. Photo by Michael Stulman/CRS As of March 30, 2015, the World Health Organization reported 25,065 cases of Ebola and 10,413 deaths across West Africa. CRS is mobilizing our broad community and Church networks developed during our long history in the region to respond to the outbreak. Although we have seen a turning point in the Ebola epidemic--with the number of cases still declining in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone local economies, and health and education sectors are still suffering. March saw both good and bad trends. Liberia discharged its last Ebola patient and was without a single confirmed case of Ebola. However, Sierra Leone and Guinea both saw increases in newly reported cases 81 and 51 new cases, respectively even though both countries had seen a downward trend. CRS is expanding its support to the needs of children affected by Ebola. CRS is managing an emergency response currently totaling $15.6 million, and that focuses on breaking the cycle of Ebola transmission by: improving community and health worker awareness and protection; ensuring comprehensive contact tracing and monitoring; promptly referring people believed to have Ebola to holding centers for testing; transferring all positive cases for care and treatment; and ensuring access to safe and dignified burials for all victims and their families. Impact to Date Regionwide Hygiene kits and hand-washing stations for 8,500 families Training for 1,600 community and religious leaders and 2,600 volunteers to carry out information campaigns Awareness messaging to more than 2 million people Sierra Leone Safe burials for 4,300 people by CRS burial teams that follow safe burial procedures Support for an Ebola response fleet of 121 vehicles and 199 motorcycles. Vehicles include ambulances and equipment or resources for quarantine, nutrition, coordination, administration and logistics support Training for 72 community volunteers on intensive counseling and other support for children impacted by Ebola Guinea Training and equipment for 3,450 health workers at 200 facilities that care for 3 million people Construction of a holding center where people who have been in contact with Ebola can be tested Liberia Reopening of a 150-bed Catholic hospital in Monrovia and assessments of the hospital s services Food assistance for 120,000 people and discharge kits for 3,000 Ebola survivors Mali Distribution of 258 hand-washing kits to 58 Catholic schools and 26 health centers Training in prevention practices for 70 staff, and in community awareness and prevention for 94 new volunteers 2

3 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC CRS is distributing firewood critical to thousands of families in the town of Boda who have been trapped in their neighborhood for months. Photo by Erin Lewis/CRS Nearly 2 years of violent civil strife between two groups battling for political control has destroyed life for millions of innocent civilians in the Central African Republic. More than 5,000 people have been killed and other human rights violations are occurring as the Seleka and anti-balaka groups battle for power and control. By the end of 2014, thousands of civilians had been killed by both sides and nearly 1 million people had been displaced from their homes. About half of these uprooted people have sought refuge in neighboring countries. Catherine Samba-Panza took over as interim president in January 2014 and pledged to restore peace, but the security situation remains volatile. The country is described as a failed state in permanent crisis. In recent weeks, a voluntary disarmament campaign has been underway with the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in areas surrounding Bossangoa, where CRS has an office. Multiple villages where CRS works have expressed a desire to participate in the program and to turn in their weapons. CRS teams and partners work bravely in dangerous conditions to provide relief and care for thousands of people in Bossangoa and Bouar in the northwest, Bangui in the southeast, and Boda in the southwest. Emergency support includes shelter, food, living supplies, agricultural recovery and conflict resolution. Impact to Date: Emergency food supplies for 2,400 families Garden seeds and tool kits to 9,859 families, including 1,544 households in previously inaccessible areas Shelter kits for 2,437 families Agriculture trainings and post-harvest handling kits including seed preservation materials and income-generating cassava mills to 50 farmer groups Living supply kits to 12,221 families and monthly firewood to 1,000 families in Boda Repair of 2 bridges, allowing access to 32 villages and 2,000 people previously unreached by aid Technical training for 250 families on preparing land for rebuilding and on placing latrines Refresher training for community protection committees on early warning systems, safe routes, community protection plans and conflict resolution Facilitation of a workshop on risk and resource mapping for local leaders in three key areas of Bouar Focus groups on the topic of gender relations and sexual and gender-based violence, as well as training for staff and partners on gender issues to raise awareness in 33 target communities Conflict resolution training and trauma-healing workshops for 800 interfaith and civil-society leaders Support for logistics, distribution, staff training and other infrastructure improvements for Caritas partners 3

4 MALAWI Flash floods overtake roads in the Chicwawa district. Photo by CRS staff Unusually heavy rainfall in late March led to severe flooding in 15 of Malawi s 28 districts, affecting more than 1 million people. At least 173,000 people have been displaced from their homes and are living in camps in Phalombe and Yomba. Destruction of bridges, persistent high water levels and intermittent flash floods have restricted access to some of the affected areas of Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe districts. In some areas, CRS and partner teams have to wade across rivers and floodplains to reach villages on foot or by boat. The flooding has destroyed crops, livestock and housing. Some 615,837 people need, or will need, food through July. Meanwhile, 148 cases of cholera have recently been reported, including 2 deaths. A majority of those cases are in the Nsanje district. CRS teams are responding with local partners, peer agencies and United Nations agencies, to provide clean water, hygiene and sanitation to 17,586 people in 19 camps in Phalombe, 8 camps in Zomba and in surrounding communities. CRS will also be providing seeds to 3,354 of the most vulnerable households whose crops and livelihoods have been devastated. Impact to Date Hygiene promotion in camps across Phalombe, Zomba and surrounding villages Construction of 162 pit latrines in the camps, separated for men and women 96 urinals and 102 bathing shelters built Hand-washing stations with soap provided Hygiene kits for each household in the target area Water trucked into CRS-constructed water tanks across 10 camps where safe water sources were not available Maize and cowpea seeds for 3,354 families in Nsanje, Chikwawa and Blantyre districts CRS Erin La Croix Inspects a CRSconstructed latrine in Phalombe District. Photo by CRS staff 4

5 SOUTH SUDAN Deborah Atong Ajang, right, helps deliver cans of vegetable oil. Photo by Ric Francis for CRS Parts of South Sudan have been embroiled in brutal conflict since December 2013, when a dispute between factions of the governing party escalated into armed aggression. Although the causes of the conflict are complex and varied, the fighting is typically reported to be a struggle between the nation s two largest ethnic groups Dinka and Nuer. President Salva Kiir is from the Dinka tribe and former Vice President Riek Machar hails from the Nuer tribe. More than a year of peace talks in Addis Ababa, and six signed agreements, have not stopped the fighting. Three states Jonglei, Unity and Upper Nile are still directly affected by the war, while others are affected by the influx of 1.5 million internally displaced people. Insecurity continues to pose challenges for people who wish to return to their country, and to organizations trying to deliver aid. The Sudan Council of Catholic Bishops recently issued a statement imploring, The war must stop immediately [t]he political negotiations cannot continue with business as usual no political advantage is worth killing more innocent civilians, nor even killing soldiers. The affected areas are places already underdeveloped because of decades of war between Sudan and South Sudan. The population largely consists of subsistence farmers and pastoralists, with minimal coping strategies to deal with disasters. In the year since the crisis began, a massive humanitarian response has been underway, with 4.8 million people reached, despite an extremely difficult operating environment, including insecurity, military regulation, almost no paved roads and severe weather conditions. Many farmers were not able to plant crops in 2014 and the fear of hunger is high. In February 2014, the U.N. Security Council described the food insecurity in South Sudan as catastrophic, and the worst in the world. The Catholic Church in South Sudan The Church is one of the few actors in South Sudanese civil society that has the credibility, capacity and broad presence to effectively address concerns that affect South Sudanese society at large. The Church was a powerful force during the Sudan- South Sudan civil war, providing both basic services and spiritual support to the people. CRS is fortunate to have such a vital partner in providing immediate relief to communities, as well as the means for people to rebuild their lives and country. CRS is providing comprehensive support to some of the most vulnerable families in Lakes and Jonglei states, including: Distributing 4,372 metric tons of food and nutritional supplements to 251,738 people Reaching 65,620 people with water, sanitation and hygiene activities Distributing living supplies to 33,969 people Engaging 4,000 people in livelihood and agricultural activities, and distributing 4,900 fishing kits Constructing 1,437 new homes for 8,622 people and 460 emergency shelters for 2,760 people Serving 1,353 people through food-for-work activities Drilling 4 boreholes and reaching an estimated 11,230 people with hygiene education messages Providing training to five Savings and Internal Lending Communities, and reactivating or forming eight others Collaborating with the Church and other organizations to support peacebuilding and reconciliation 5

6 EASTERN UKRAINE A mother in Svatagorsk, eastern Ukraine, registers with CRS and Caritas for emergency help. Photo by Volodymyr Nechaiev for CRS CRS and Caritas teams are providing critical humanitarian relief in key areas of Ukraine, where 1.6 million people have fled their homes because of armed conflict between Ukrainian government forces and separatist groups in the eastern Donbas region. Violence exploded again in January and February as both sides abandoned the September cease-fire. The devastation was heaviest in the Donetsk region, where the local airport became a defining battleground, captured by pro-separatists in late January. It now lies in ruins. I couldn t tell the truth to my daughter. I said, Those are thunderstorms, not shelling. And she said, We need to rush home. It s going to rain. Iryna, mother of Masha, 3, Izyum, eastern Ukraine A round of diplomacy between the heads of state of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany resulted in a cease-fire agreement that was to begin on February 15. However, the battle for Debaltseva raged until Ukrainian forces withdrew on February 18, and sporadic shelling continues in many areas. More than 1 million people have been displaced within Ukraine, fleeing to the provinces of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporozhe. At least 600,000 people have fled to neighboring countries, primarily Russia. An estimated 6,000 people have been killed and 14,595 have been wounded. Most displaced families are not living in camps or in collective centers, but with family or friends; or they are renting small rooms or apartments. Uncertainty about returning home is high. Meanwhile, a nationwide economic crisis is compounding the humanitarian situation. The Donbas region used to be the mining and industrial heartland. Now, at least 60 percent of its coal mines are closed. The Ukrainian currency, which had steadily been losing value against the dollar for the past year, lost 50 percent of its value in one day in February. Unemployment is expected to rise, as is the cost of living, while incomes will likely stagnate. Ukraine has been torn between East and West since the collapse of the Soviet Union in While most Ukrainians speak Russian as well as Ukrainian, even the choice of language and the pronunciation of the names of towns and cities can be contentious. CRS and Caritas Ukraine are working closely to respond in the provinces of Kharkiv, Dnetropetrovsk, Donetsk and Zaporizhia, and have provided a range of support to meet evolving needs. Support has included emergency food, water, living and shelter supplies for 4,100 families. Most recently, CRS and Caritas Ukraine have prioritized the distribution of cash grants, averaging $300, to families, which they can use to purchase what they need. CRS is working primarily from a base office in Kharkiv, with outreach to affected areas. Caritas Ukraine has an extensive history of social work for the elderly and vulnerable people in western Ukraine. It s one of the largest social service agencies in the country. Priorities Shelter subsidies and support Living supplies, including clothing, blankets, soap and cooking sets Cash grants for families to purchase the goods they need 6

7 IRAQ Lavina, 5, left, and her sister Julianne, 8, with blankets donated by CRS and Caritas in the 200-year-old home where several displaced families live near Dohuk, Iraq. Photo by Sam Tarling for CRS Armed conflict in Iraq has escalated over the past year, uprooting an estimated 2 million people from their homes and towns. Many families describe similar situations of fleeing, at a moment s notice, after learning that ISIS was nearing their cities and towns. Civilians of all ethnic and religious backgrounds have been targeted and displaced, including minority communities such as Yazidis, Christians and Turkmen, as well as Shiites and Sunnis. In addition to the massive number of internally displaced Iraqis, the country is hosting some 230,000 refugees from Syria who have sought help mainly in the northern Kurdistan region. Local resources are strained in these communities as a growing number of families arrive in desperate need. Only one-third of uprooted families in the northern Dohuk region are living in camps, meaning that hundreds of thousands of others are living in areas where social services are even scarcer. Although some families have taken displaced people into their homes, most displaced families are staying in abandoned and dilapidated buildings. Families continue to need living supplies and shelter, as well as education, counseling and other support for their children. Three-quarters of displaced children are not attending school. CRS and Caritas Iraq are jointly providing essential supplies and shelter improvements to help families live with dignity, along with education and care for children. We also provided relief items throughout the recent bitter winter. Recently, CRS and Caritas invested in expanding in child-friendly spaces large tented areas that provide children safe spaces where they can play and participate in educational activities and counseling. The spaces provide a routine, counseling, recreational activities and tutoring to keep children mentally engaged so they will be able to heal and transition to formal schooling eventually. CRS and Caritas jointly employ 151 staff, consultants and volunteers at offices in Erbil and Dohuk. Impact to Date Reached 50,000 vulnerable displaced Iraqis with critical cash and relief assistance in Dohuk governorate. Provided 9,593 families, or 48,398 people, with cash and relief items for winter. Winterized 422 buildings that provide shelter to 10,899 people, with ongoing work on an additional 1,000 buildings. Provided 1,106 children with counseling and structured play in child-friendly spaces. Established 15 child-friendly spaces for education, play and care. Another 6 spaces are under development. Constructed 111 latrines serving 468 families, or 3,322 individuals. When we heard the threat from ISIS, I ran and left all the things behind. I just came with my legs. We never expected this. But, we are in a better position than other people. We are at least fortunate for where we are staying. When we arrived, the priest here told us, Welcome, welcome. You have no worries here. Salah Adel Avob Mangesh 7

8 SYRIAN REFUGEE CRISIS Dourit, 12, who fled Syria, now attends CRSsupported classes at Good Shepherd Sisters Center in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Photo by Sam Tarling for CRS CRS and its partner the Good Shepherd Sisters helped Abir, 21, a Syrian mother of two, move to a safe informal settlement in Lebanon s Bekaa Valley. Photo by Sam Tarling for CRS In March, the Syrian conflict entered its fifth year, a milestone wrapped in widespread trauma, loss, violence and anxiety about what is to come. Conditions are deteriorating for the millions of refugees in neighboring countries and those displaced inside Syria. People speak of a lost generation: Half of the estimated 3.9 million refugees are children, and a majority of them have been out of school for most of their childhoods. The Syrian refugee crisis is the largest forced migration since World War II. Neighboring countries bear a heavy burden as their economies, societies and infrastructure struggle under the weight of this new reality. Lebanon alone has absorbed more than 1.1 million refugees. It has the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. Women and children make up more than 70 percent of the refugee population across the region. The Catholic Church and its social service agencies in the region, including Caritas, have a deep history of helping the most vulnerable, regardless of their religious affiliation. Their deep roots in the region, and their network of staff and operations, provide CRS with a tremendous advantage of being able to help people quickly, efficiently, on a large scale and with the established trust of local communities. CRS is responding throughout the region primarily in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq to support Syrians as well as the local host communities affected by the influx of refugees. CRS programs have provided the following assistance to more than 500,000 people: Shelter and rent assistance: Monthly rental stipends help support the majority of refugees who live in urban areas. With few options for refugees to work or earn an income, the stipends help prevent homelessness, squatting and destitution. Children s Education, Support and Trauma Counseling: CRS is supporting education, tutoring, recreational activities and trauma counseling for children. Food: CRS supports cash and voucher programs for people to purchase what they need. This gives families the dignity of choice, and helps to support the local economy. Living supplies: Prepackaged relief kits equip new arrivals with essentials such as blankets and bedding, stoves, buckets and other key living supplies. Medical assistance: This support includes immediate interventions for life-threatening wounds, care for chronic conditions like diabetes, and maternal and child care. Hygiene and Sanitation: CRS and our partners are providing vouchers for soap, laundry detergent, diapers, sanitary napkins and other supplies to keep families healthy. 8

9 GAZA Cash-for-work participants helped rebuild a kindergarten that was damaged in the fighting. Photo by Shareef Sarhan for CRS CRS works with hundreds of families to rebuild temporary homes with locally available materials and input from community members. Photo by CRS staff The devastation in Gaza from 7 weeks of armed conflict in the summer of 2014 could set back a generation. Intense fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed infrastructure. The combination of airstrikes, naval bombardment and a ground invasion in the tiny, urban Gaza Strip has ruined many lives. All aspects of life were gravely affected: homes turned to piles of rubble, agricultural land destroyed, water networks damaged, electricity lines broken, schools shelled, and families traumatized and grieving. The conflict was an added blow to an already strained lifestyle. After 8 months, Palestinians in Gaza are still struggling to put their lives back together. CRS is working with communities and local partners in Gaza to support families in diverse circumstances as they rebuild their lives. Emergency recovery efforts include the following: Emergency Living Supplies: During and immediately after the recent conflict, distributing 6,000 living supply kits and 8,000 hygiene kits to displaced families across the Gaza Strip. Emotional Care and Counseling: Working with local organizations to provide child-friendly spaces for school-aged children, which offer safe and supervised play areas, counseling and emotional support, and academic enrichment activities. Shelter: Helping 200 families build transitional shelters made with locally available materials. More than 120 transitional shelters are currently under construction or complete. Cash-for-Work Opportunities: Providing income opportunities for vulnerable unemployed laborers and repairing areas devastated by the recent conflict, including farmland and kindergartens. Agricultural Recovery: Supporting 700 vulnerable farmers with vouchers to purchase seeds, tools and other materials, as well as assistance with land leveling and preparation. Without a home, we are from here to the sky, we are only speakers to God. If we didn t have our shelter, we wouldn t even have a shadow to sleep under. Whatever thanking words we have to say, it is too humble. Abu Hussein & Henda 9