News Briefs
Back to Weekly News Briefs...April 24, 2008
- CIDA delivers funds for Augusta Victoria Hospital
- Higher food prices put more people at risk
- Hope hidden in rising food prices?
CIDA delivers funds for Augusta Victoria Hospital
The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is working with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to contribute $632,000 to Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH). The hospital in East Jerusalem is the only institution offering specialized medical services like cancer treatment and dialysis to Palestinians.
CLWR in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) initiated this call for aid following the health care crisis created by the international embargo blocking funds to Palestinian authorities after the election of Hamas in January 2006. In April 2006, the ELCIC and CLWR provided $60,000 USD to AVH for immediate relief and together they have encouraged both provincial and federal governments as well as members of the church and the general public to provide financial support for the provision of medical treatment among the Palestinian population.
“This support is very timely for the AVH,” says Robert Granke, CLWR executive director. “The improvements and expansion will enhance the capacity of the hospital to provide valuable services to Palestinians, including elderly patients and their families. The ELCIC and CLWR are pleased to receive this tangible support from the Government of Canada in response to the ongoing health care needs in the region.”
The funding will be used to increase access to quality health services for elderly Palestinians in need by enlarging the geriatric care ward from a 16-bed unit into a 28-bed unit. Plans to expand and refurbish the existing space are complete, and construction will begin immediately. The new space is expected to be ready in December 2008.
The official funding announcement will be made by Robert Granke, CLWR’s executive director, in East Jerusalem on April 29.
– CLWR News Service
Higher food prices put more people at risk
The rising prices of global food commodities such as rice, wheat and corn are having a dramatic impact on the lives of millions. Prices have recently doubled, while many of the world’s poor continue to earn less than one dollar a day.
“We’re seeing about 100 million people…who maybe didn’t need assistance six months ago but today simply can’t afford enough food for their family,” says Josette Sheeran, the head of the United Nations World Food Program. But what is even more troubling is that just as the number of people dependant on handouts grows, the World Food Program is able to secure less and less food.
“We can purchase less food than we could in June—in fact, 40 percent less,” Sheeran says.
The program director for Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Elaine Peters, says CLWR is actively involved in sustainable agriculture and these price influxes are a good example of what CLWR programs try to provide a buffer against.
“In India, we are discouraging mono cropping with one rain-fed crop. Instead we promote a second and even third crop using irrigation. In Africa and Latin America, we support sustainable farming but also help farmers bring their surplus to market, which is an important step in generating income.”
– CLWR News Service
Hope hidden in rising food prices?
Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) has signalled its worries over rising food prices as the agency’s own projects become adversely affected by the situation. CFGB, of which Canadian Lutheran World Relief is a member, uses donated cash and grain in food-for-work development projects around the world.
Because of rising food prices, the amount of food aid CFGB can provide will drop by at least a quarter and probably much more unless additional funding—at least $5 million—is raised.
“Rapidly rising food prices will force millions of poor people to reduce the amount and variety of food they consume, reduce their expenditures on health and education, and reduce savings and sell assets leading to further impoverishment,” reports CFGB in a news release.
However, CFGB points out that in the longer term it is possible that rising food prices could help poor farmers in developing countries. The agency cautions: “This will only happen if targeted investments by governments and aid agencies are made to support small-scale farmers.... Otherwise much of the gain from higher prices will be captured by larger-scale farmers and the poor will only be left with their hunger.”
– CLWR News Service
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The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is working with Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) to contribute $632,000 to Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH). The hospital in East Jerusalem is the only institution offering specialized medical services like cancer treatment and dialysis to Palestinians.
CLWR in partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC) initiated this call for aid following the health care crisis created by the international embargo blocking funds to Palestinian authorities after the election of Hamas in January 2006. In April 2006, the ELCIC and CLWR provided $60,000 USD to AVH for immediate relief and together they have encouraged both provincial and federal governments as well as members of the church and the general public to provide financial support for the provision of medical treatment among the Palestinian population.
“This support is very timely for the AVH,” says Robert Granke, CLWR executive director. “The improvements and expansion will enhance the capacity of the hospital to provide valuable services to Palestinians, including elderly patients and their families. The ELCIC and CLWR are pleased to receive this tangible support from the Government of Canada in response to the ongoing health care needs in the region.”
The funding will be used to increase access to quality health services for elderly Palestinians in need by enlarging the geriatric care ward from a 16-bed unit into a 28-bed unit. Plans to expand and refurbish the existing space are complete, and construction will begin immediately. The new space is expected to be ready in December 2008.
The official funding announcement will be made by Robert Granke, CLWR’s executive director, in East Jerusalem on April 29.
– CLWR News Service
Higher food prices put more people at risk
The rising prices of global food commodities such as rice, wheat and corn are having a dramatic impact on the lives of millions. Prices have recently doubled, while many of the world’s poor continue to earn less than one dollar a day.
“We’re seeing about 100 million people…who maybe didn’t need assistance six months ago but today simply can’t afford enough food for their family,” says Josette Sheeran, the head of the United Nations World Food Program. But what is even more troubling is that just as the number of people dependant on handouts grows, the World Food Program is able to secure less and less food.
“We can purchase less food than we could in June—in fact, 40 percent less,” Sheeran says.
The program director for Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Elaine Peters, says CLWR is actively involved in sustainable agriculture and these price influxes are a good example of what CLWR programs try to provide a buffer against.
“In India, we are discouraging mono cropping with one rain-fed crop. Instead we promote a second and even third crop using irrigation. In Africa and Latin America, we support sustainable farming but also help farmers bring their surplus to market, which is an important step in generating income.”
– CLWR News Service
Hope hidden in rising food prices?
Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) has signalled its worries over rising food prices as the agency’s own projects become adversely affected by the situation. CFGB, of which Canadian Lutheran World Relief is a member, uses donated cash and grain in food-for-work development projects around the world.
Because of rising food prices, the amount of food aid CFGB can provide will drop by at least a quarter and probably much more unless additional funding—at least $5 million—is raised.
“Rapidly rising food prices will force millions of poor people to reduce the amount and variety of food they consume, reduce their expenditures on health and education, and reduce savings and sell assets leading to further impoverishment,” reports CFGB in a news release.
However, CFGB points out that in the longer term it is possible that rising food prices could help poor farmers in developing countries. The agency cautions: “This will only happen if targeted investments by governments and aid agencies are made to support small-scale farmers.... Otherwise much of the gain from higher prices will be captured by larger-scale farmers and the poor will only be left with their hunger.”
– CLWR News Service
