In July 2011, the United Nations officially declared that regions of Somalia were experiencing famine in light of a severe drought in eastern Africa. The drought, which has affected several neighbouring countries and has resulted in millions of people being at risk, has led to an impressive humanitarian response worldwide.

On the 5^th of November the Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd announced a Dollar for Dollar Initiative to raise money for the ongoing crisis in the Horn of Africa. Throughout this initiative, every dollar Australians have donated to the appeals of participating accredited Australian NGOs has been matched by the government. The initiative will run until the 30th of November, 2011.

So far, the Government has given more than $1.5 million to 11 Australian NGOs .

Like the other participating NGOs, UnitingWorld has received an increase in donations for the Horn of Africa appeal since the launch of the initiative. Since July, UnitingWorld has received close to $200,000 in donations which have supported the work of our partners in East Africa.

Humanitarian efforts have made a huge difference in Somalia and neighbouring countries.

There is still urgent need, however. People continue to suffer from the effects of the drought. Many are without food and people continue to flee their homes. Millions are in need of urgent humanitarian aid. There has been an influx of refugees into camps in Kenya, including the sprawling complex of camps in Dadeeb, where there have been outbreaks of cholera.

UnitingWorld’s partners have been directly involved in setting up new extensions to the Dadaab camp to accommodate the new arrivals of refugees. UnitingWorld is also supporting relief food distribution in two of the most famine affected districts of Kenya, including Mukaa and Kalawani.

In light of this ongoing need, we encourage everyone to give. There are still 9 days left in the Governments Dollar for Dollar initiative and all donations will be matched by the Australian Government, dollar for dollar.

To read more, click here.

Click here to read AusAID’s media release regarding the initiative.

Click here to make a secure online donation

Donations can also be made by calling 1800 998 122

Or by mail: click here to download donation form, and post to:

PO Box A2266 Sydney South 1235

Donations over $2 are tax deductible.

Click here to download a printable version of this update.

CONTENTS: From the Relief and Development Unit | Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal | Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal | Sumatra (Indonesia) Earthquake Appeal | Samoa Tsunami Appeal | Donate

From the Relief and Development unit

Dear Friends,

In September and October last year, UnitingWorld respond to the urgent needs of several of our Partner Churches at a time when they faced danger from natural disasters and chronic food shortages.

Some of the most destructive natural disasters of recent times severely affected our partners in Samoa, the Philippines and Indonesia. At the same time millions of Zimbabweans were facing a chronic food shortage, with an estimated seven million people relying on food aid.

We received a significant amount of support that enabled us to respond to the urgent needs of our Church Partners. With your generosity, we were able to act swiftly to stand with our partners through this difficult time, and aid the recovery process.

Below I have provided updates from our partners who have reported on the aid that you enabled us to provide. You can read about what is happening now on the ground as a result of your giving.

We are thankful for the assistance you enabled us to provide through these difficult times, and we are proud to be able to show you the results. While there is still much to do, these communities are gradually finding a renewed sense of stability. Again, thank you for your support. 

Yours in Partnership,

Mr Rob Floyd

Associate Director | Relief and Development

Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal

A total of $51 160.80 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.

A woman and her child near the Buhera District receive food and sanitation supplies, including rice, cooking oil, beans and soap

UnitingWorld launched the Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal in September last year to provide emergency assistance to the five million people relying on food aid for survival in the Buhera District in Zimbabwe.

Located approximately 226 km south west of Harare, the district is the second poorest district in Zimbabwe, and was facing the effects of growing food prices, infertile land, and persistant drought. Cholera prevalence rates were also continuing to grow as a result of poor sanitation facilities. Estimates from the United Nations indicate that approximately seven million people are relying on food aid for survival.

We initially supported the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and their aid and development arm Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA) in providing 835 families with emergency food supplies. In December alone 570 highly vulnerable households each received 500 g of beans, 750 ml of cooking oil and 10 kg of mealie meal (ground maize).

Grain was purchased from farmers in more fertile areas of Zimbabwe who, due to the state of the economy, had a surplus of crops and needed an income. The relief effort is continuing to provide the most vulnerable people, including the disabled, elderly, and child headed families with food relief.

The prevalence of cholera was also addressed by providing soap and education to communities at risk, and installing sanitary toilets.

While our food relief effort in Zimbabwe is now complete, and we are continuing to focus on water harvesting projects in Muzarabanzi, a remote region of Zimbabwe that exists several hours walk from a source of water.

Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal

A total of $54 927.30 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.

Local residents cling to telegraph poles to escape rising flood levels

On Saturday 26th September 2009, Typohoon Ketsana brought the equivalent of one month’s rain in just 12 hours, resulting in the worst flooding the Philippines had seen in more than 40 years. Hundreds lost their lives as a result of the typhoon, and the homes of around two million people were affected. Disease and sanitation were also serious concerns, and several farms had been destroyed.

UnitingWorld launched the Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal to support the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in their emergency relief efforts. Initially, emergency food aid was distributed to provide immediate relief. Subsequent support focused on increasing the capacity of farmers and workers whose livelihoods had been destroyed.

Seeds were provided to farming communities to aid the recovery of rice and vegetable fields. Replacement farming tools and implements that had been damaged or destroyed were replaced, including, spades, rakes, water pumps, and hoses.

A tree planting program undertaken by the 15 conferences of the UCCP affected by the typhoon worked to address the issue of landslides in rural areas caused by deforestation.

Sumatra (Indonesia) Earthquake Appeal

A total of $39 111.72 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.

Residents are rescued from collapsed buildings. Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37387749@N02/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

On Wednesday 30th September 2009, an earthquake of 7.3 magnitude struck the Padang province of Sumatra, Indonesia. Hundreds of people died as houses fell and infrastructure and health care services were destroyed. Thousands of people were left, injured, homeless, and hungry.

To address the urgent health needs of the people in the Padang area, UnitingWorld immediately launched the Sumatra Earthquake Appeal to support relief efforts of our Church Partner, the Indonesian Christian Church.

Your support saved lives and helped to rebuild the future of the Padang province by providing assistance to over 1000 people in nine villages.

Initially, nine communities affected by the quake received over 12 tonnes of rice, 500 kg of green beans, and 4 800 bottles of water to address the immediate need for food and water. Tents, blankets and sarongs for shelter and warmth were also distributed. As health could rapidly deteriorate, medicine (100 boxes), soap (2880 boxes), toothbrushes and toothpaste were also provided.

We also supported our partner in Indonesia by providing housing assistance while villages are being rebuilt. Clean water and sanitation initiatives will ensure the long term health of these communities.

Samoa Tsunami Appeal

A total of $349 161.72 was donated, and $205 000 has been dispersed to date.

A remote village in Samoa after the tsunami hit

The 1.7 metre wave that hit Samoa in September last year caused severe damage in low lying island areas and claimed the lives of more than 100 people. Thousands of homes were swept away, livelihoods were left in ruins, and entire communities needed emergency food, water, shelter, and medical attention.

UnitingWorld came to the aid of our friends in Samoa and launched the Samoa Tsunami Appeal. We supported two of our Partner Churches, the Methodist Church of Samoa and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa address the immediate needs of those most affected.

Community centres are nearly completed in three villages where all the buildings were wiped away.  The centres will provide a place for pre-schools, youth, women’s and other community groups to meet.

The remaining $144 161.72 will be used to rebuild infrastructure in affected communities in the coming months.

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The clean up from these disasters is well underway, but there are several other of our projects in these countries and throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific that are still in need of assistance.

Our Relief and Development and Peacemaking projects are still in need of support. All donations are gratefully received.

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