News Briefs: February 17, 2006
Severe Flooding in Bolivia
Unprecedented heavy rains have been lashing Bolivia since January 2006. In the highlands alone rainfall has been nearly three times the annual average. Consequently, the highlands and the Amazon River basin have suffered severe flooding, causing serious damage to houses, crops, roads and other basic infrastructure. Rural families, who rely mainly on subsistence farming, have been badly affected.
The most affected areas are located in the departments of Santa Cruz and La Paz y Beni. Santa Cruz is one of the areas where CLWR has projects. The government declared a state of emergency at the beginning of February and appealed for international assistance. According to the latest reports, 33,856 families have been affected and 12,742 are in need of humanitarian aid. To date 13 persons have died as a result of the floods and 9,374 families have been evacuated. Some families have taken refuge in tents in nearby communities, but others are simply left to their own means.
CLWR will continue to monitor the situation. Donations can be forwarded to CLWR and designated “Bolivia – Flooding.”
- With Reports from ACT and CLWR News Service
CLWR Resources Being Used Far and Wide
CLWR has developed some great resources that have been used by many congregations and groups. Most recently, more than 6,000 copies of the 2006 Lenten calendar have been delivered to congregations across Canada.
Requests for materials have not only come from Canada though. Mr. Ronald Lutalo, coordinator of the PROLINNOVA, a national learning network in Uganda, recently requested "Mulia" - a CLWR children's Lenten resource. He plans to use it in churches in Uganda to enrich their children's ministries.
CLWR hopes to continue to develop resources that enable people of all ages to learn about poverty-related issues and engage them in making a difference in these people's lives. Your feedback is always welcomed as we together build bridges between people around the world.
- CLWR News Service
Algeria Donates Relief Food
It may be our impression that only countries from Europe and North America are addressing poverty and humanitarian crises. However, that is not the case.
The Algerian Government has donated a total of 6,580 metric tonnes of relief rice worth US$ 2.2 million to Zambia.
The rice was donated through the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to the Government of Zambia to help feed an estimated 1.42 million people who need food relief.
Speaking earlier, Algerian Ambassador to Zambia and Zimbabwe Ali Mokrani said his government would always render support and share the little it has with those in need. Mr. Mokrani further noted that Africans should unite to solve problems in all aspects, including humanitarian assistance. He hoped that this farming season would yield a good harvest to help the people who have been previously hit by the drought.
Chairman for Chipapa satellite committee, History Katuma, was grateful for the gesture but appealed to WFP and Government to increase the food ratios.
Mr. Katuma noted that the population in the area was about 20,000 and that the food being given was not enough for all the people in need of food relief.
The districts that have been identified for assistance include Katete where CLWR supports projects.
- Zambia News Agency and CLWR News Service
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