World Emergency Relief http://www.wer-uk.org/atom/feed 2010-02-02T14:57:40+00:00 Earthquake in Chile http://www.wer-uk.org/content/earthquake-chile 2010-03-01T13:34:42+00:00 2010-03-05T11:14:49+00:00 admin Last Saturday morning an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 hit central Chile with devastating effect.  The quake made thousands of people homeless as giant waves triggered by the earthquake swamped the isolated coastal towns.

So far over 700 people have died with the death toll expecting to rise because of the number of missing people.  Aftershocks of 7.5 magnitude continued to hit the country as rescue workers arrived to find entire fishing villages had been washed away.

]]> Last Saturday morning an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 hit central Chile with devastating effect.  The quake made thousands of people homeless as giant waves triggered by the earthquake swamped the isolated coastal towns.

So far over 700 people have died with the death toll expecting to rise because of the number of missing people.  Aftershocks of 7.5 magnitude continued to hit the country as rescue workers arrived to find entire fishing villages had been washed away.

It is reported that in the town of Constitución, 350 people have died when the earthquake first hit causing a Tsunami.  Surging waves destroyed and swept away anything in its path.  An estimated 500,000 homes were severely damaged by the quake leaving 1 in 8 people homeless.

As fuel, water, and food ran survivors have been forced to scavenge.  The Chilean Military has now taken control of towns and cities that have been affected, imposing curfews and maintaining control.

With many bridges destroyed and much of Route 5, the main North-South highway, a mangled mess, delivery of aid has been difficult, with some areas entirely cut off.

The Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet told reporters: ‘We are facing a catastrophe of such unthinkable magnitude that it will require a giant effort.’

Chile did not initially ask for foreign assistance but Ms Bachelet later said she would accept some offers of aid.  She said that Chile needed field hospitals, temporary bridges, water purification plants, damage assessment experts and rescuers to relieve those already looking for survivors.

Despite the magnitude of this quake, the devastation has been far less than that of Haiti.  Chile’s history of earthquakes and solid construction has been instrumental in preventing further destruction and deaths.

Due to our ongoing commitments to emergency relief and long-term developments in Haiti, WER is currently monitoring the situation in Chile, however, it is unlikely that WER will be able to offer any assistance due to limited emergency funding and lack of local partners.
 

Picture courtsey of Alertnet.

]]> Private schooling for poor in Guatemala http://www.wer-uk.org/content/private-schooling-poor-guatemala 2010-02-24T12:54:32+00:00 2010-02-24T16:03:36+00:00 admin
WER are providing extra support and funding to the Cosecha Trust to sponsor children from a poor rural region of Guatemala to attend a local private school.

]]>
WER are providing extra support and funding to the Cosecha Trust to sponsor children from a poor rural region of Guatemala to attend a local private school.


Guatemala is a country with huge disparities between rich and poor. Rural and indigenous populations are particularly disadvantaged and many families live in extreme poverty. Illiteracy, infant mortality and malnutrition are among the highest in the region. Large numbers of children are forced to drop out of school in order to earn a living, while others get involved with organized crime and violent street gangs.
 

WER are already are responding to this worrying situation by supporting the Cosecha Trust, an educational organization that provides supplementary education to 27 underprivileged children from the rural area, Tecpan.
However, Cosecha have recently been given the exciting opportunity to extend their work and sponsor children to attend a private college, Mundo Magico. The private school has offered a discount to the underprivileged children of Cosecha.

By attending Mundo Magico in the morning and Cosecha Trust in the afternoon, the underprivileged children of Cosecha will be able to gain a high quality education otherwise unreachable. The children will gain important lessons in good values and behaviour they may not otherwise receive and the schooling will keep them off the streets, safeguarding their security.
 

The children will be given the best possible start in life that will help lift them out of the poverty that plagues their family. By educating the youth of poor communities, the future of the deprived of Guatemala looks more promising. Without the help of Cosecha, WER and the discount offered by Magico Mundo, these children would have been restricted by their low quality education.
 

Furthermore, this scheme will ensure that the privileged children of Mundo Magico will intermix with the underprivileged children of Guatemala. Hopefully, this could help to break down the gap between the rich and poor of Guatemalan society and foster an inclusive and open-minded culture. 
 

CEO of WER, Alex Haxton noted on his recent visit to the project, “I am extremely impressed by the hard work and dedication of the children-they clearly want to take advantage of this unique opportunity.”
 

]]> Babies fed up! http://www.wer-uk.org/content/babies-fed 2010-02-24T09:35:23+00:00 2010-03-09T11:16:30+00:00 superadmin Hungry infants eat an excellent meal thanks to organic baby food brand Plum Baby and donations from mothers across the UK.

In South Africa poverty is a major cause of hardship, especially for the very young.  A lack of food causes major problems in later life.  In fact, malnutrition leads to stunted growth amongst some 22% of South African children aged 1-9. Compare this to the UK where the same proportion of primary school children is obese.

]]> Hungry infants eat an excellent meal thanks to organic baby food brand Plum Baby and donations from mothers across the UK.

In South Africa poverty is a major cause of hardship, especially for the very young.  A lack of food causes major problems in later life.  In fact, malnutrition leads to stunted growth amongst some 22% of South African children aged 1-9. Compare this to the UK where the same proportion of primary school children is obese.

At Christmas 2009 UK baby food supplier, Plum Baby, teamed up with their own customers to address this hunger.  Plum Baby donated 50,000 servings of their finest baby food, while their customers, mothers from across the UK, raised money for shipping.  To the delight of some very hungry babies, the food was unloaded and distribution began last week.

The food is being given out at pre-schools, orphanages and drop in-centres across Paarl East in the Western Cape.  Plum Baby food is made from only the most nutritious, healthy ingredients and the mothers of the babies receiving the food have given very positive feedback.  One centre, Sarfat Community Outreach, reported that in a room full of babies, after the food was given out an unprecedented silence descended as 60 babies quickly polished off their first pot.

Poverty is not the only problem affecting young lives in South Africa.  With one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS, there are around 70,000 babies born with the illness each year.  For these infants to have any chance in life, they must have access to good food, but this is extremely challenging especially as mothers with HIV/AIDS often struggle to find work.  Some of the baby food was sent to the Butterfly Centre, a WER supported centre that provides help to mothers and children with HIV/AIDS which will be a great help to these vulnerable children.

In fact, the food has even proved popular with the one adult who has tried it.  As part of the customs clearance process, the port inspector had to open and taste a pot of the product.  Even though he only had to try one spoonful to verify the contents he went on to eat the entire pot.  His verdict?  “Delicious.”

This is not the first time Plum Baby has donated to WER.   Back in January 2009 a shipment of food was sent to Burundi, one of the poorest countries in the world, providing much needed nutrition for the children there and Plum Baby has just agreed to provide baby food for the next WER aid shipment to Haiti.

 

]]> You don't need wealth in order to give http://www.wer-uk.org/content/you-dont-need-wealth-order-give 2010-02-09T15:27:35+00:00 2010-02-10T09:46:37+00:00 admin Life can be hard for many families in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Living on just a few dollars a day means that affording even the basic necessities for life is a challenge. But for the children of Eduardo Brito School and their families, when they heard about the suffering caused by the earthquake in neighbouring Haiti there was only one possible response. Since the earthquake struck they have mobilised their community to help and have been organising collections of goods to send over the border.

]]> Life can be hard for many families in Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. Living on just a few dollars a day means that affording even the basic necessities for life is a challenge. But for the children of Eduardo Brito School and their families, when they heard about the suffering caused by the earthquake in neighbouring Haiti there was only one possible response. Since the earthquake struck they have mobilised their community to help and have been organising collections of goods to send over the border.

The pupils have turned to their parents, tutors and other members of the community to ask for contributions of food, bottled water and toiletries. Many of the donors can afford only the basic necessities themselves, yet they are willing to share what little they have with the people of Haiti.

“You don’t need wealth in order to give to those in need,” said Antonio Royo, director of the Eduardo Brito School. “You just need compassion and the will to help and to know that we are all human. Regardless of our nationality, race, colour or history we all need one another.”

The supplies that have been collected will be delivered to the Good Samaritan School in Port au Prince where 1,000 homeless people are now taking shelter in the grounds.

The community surrounding the Eduardo Brito School will continue to collect further goods to help those in need.

“I have been amazed by the response of the local people to our campaign,” said Royo. “It is a real inspiration to see people set aside the difficulties of their daily lives and to show compassion for people that they will in all likelihood never meet.”

You too can contribute to help the victims of Haiti by calling 0844 2492129 or donate online at www.wer-uk.org/donate. 

If you would like to recieve updates about our work in Haiti please enter your name and email address below. 




 

]]> Red Day 4 Haiti - Live feed from Scotland http://www.wer-uk.org/content/red-day-4-haiti-live-feed-scotland 2010-02-04T14:39:09+00:00 2010-02-08T08:58:01+00:00 superadmin Yesterday Scotland's MSPs wore red in support of Red Day 4 Haiti - a campaign across Scotland that raises awareness and funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

World Emergency Relief are delighted to be Glasgow the Caring City's partner for this campaign.

The Red Day 4 Haiti campaign asks people across the country to wear red as a show of solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, to promote awareness of victims' suffering and to encourage the Scottish people to give generously to help.

]]> Yesterday Scotland's MSPs wore red in support of Red Day 4 Haiti - a campaign across Scotland that raises awareness and funds for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

World Emergency Relief are delighted to be Glasgow the Caring City's partner for this campaign.

The Red Day 4 Haiti campaign asks people across the country to wear red as a show of solidarity with the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, to promote awareness of victims' suffering and to encourage the Scottish people to give generously to help.

The earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday 12th January has become one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of our time. The death toll is estimated to be nearly 200,000 and the destruction of capital city Port Au Prince and the surrounding slums of Cite Soleil is near total. Images of tragedy and need have been replayed many times on the news but even now the story is slipping lower on some people's priorities.

For the hundreds of thousands of Haitians affected by the crisis the tragedy is far from over. Their homes have collapsed and the infrastructure of the country, weak enough to begin with, lies in ruins. The generosity of the people across the world has meant that emergency aid supplies have arrived, and are in use now, but the rebuilding of shattered lives and communities will take long-term support.

By taking part in Red Day 4 Haiti you can show your support for precisely this kind of longer-term help.   Why not encourage your work, school or friends and family to have their own Red Day 4 Haiti?  Send your pictures to info@wer-uk.org and we will post them on this page

You can donate to the campaign here.

WER are proud partners of Glasgow the Caring City in the Red Day 4 Haiti Campaign.

]]> Update from DR Congo http://www.wer-uk.org/content/update-dr-congo 2010-02-02T13:31:46+00:00 2010-02-02T14:49:55+00:00 admin Last December in Marungu a remote and impoverished region in east Congo, government forces moved to crack down on the Interhamwe rebels.  With an influx of refugees and fleeing Interhamwe fighters the region was thrown into turmoil.

As NGO’s are still not allowed in the region, Emmando, a Congolese Engineer who works for African Revival Ministries (ARM) has sent us the following reports updating us of the situation:

‘The situation is still precarious but there are now government soldiers protecting the roads.’

]]> Last December in Marungu a remote and impoverished region in east Congo, government forces moved to crack down on the Interhamwe rebels.  With an influx of refugees and fleeing Interhamwe fighters the region was thrown into turmoil.

As NGO’s are still not allowed in the region, Emmando, a Congolese Engineer who works for African Revival Ministries (ARM) has sent us the following reports updating us of the situation:

‘The situation is still precarious but there are now government soldiers protecting the roads.’

‘At present there are 124 families living in bad conditions around Marungu village.  Thanks to the generous donations that we received, we were able to buy blankets for all 124 families in the area.’

‘We are grateful for everything we have received but we still need more clothes and food.’

DR Congo has a long history of violence with an estimated 3 million lives lost in the last decade due to conflict.  This has devastated the social and development structure of the country leaving schools, hospitals and homes destroyed and leaving many people without shelter and short of food and water.

Despite a peace deal being brokered in 2003 the threat of civil war is still a possibility and the country is still in a grip of a humanitarian crisis.

Reports from last December told us of rebels and government soldier’s alike taking cows, goats and the like from civilians.   This has affected the families in the region who are still desperate for food and clothes. 

 With your continuing support we hope to help provide further aid to the people of Marungu.  Thank you to all who donated in response to the Marungu campaign.
 

 For more infomation on DR Congo or on any of our projects please sign up to our mailing list.

 




 

]]> Out of the Dump http://www.wer-uk.org/content/out-dump 2010-02-02T10:05:23+00:00 2010-02-02T10:26:16+00:00 superadmin WER Chief Executive Alex Haxton is currently visiting projects in Guatemala

Yesterday Haxton visited the Fotokids project which has been supported by WER-UK for over 6 years.

Fotokids was originally known as 'Out of the Dump': a descriptive name for the wonderful rescue work that has been achieved over many years.

]]> WER Chief Executive Alex Haxton is currently visiting projects in Guatemala

Yesterday Haxton visited the Fotokids project which has been supported by WER-UK for over 6 years.

Fotokids was originally known as 'Out of the Dump': a descriptive name for the wonderful rescue work that has been achieved over many years.

Through Fotokids, a life of poverty is exchanged for a camera, and a scholarship for education. This innovative programme was established by former war photographer Nancy McGirr who has been working with children in impoverished communities in Guatemala for more than ten years.

Six days a week, students come to the Fotokids centre for classes in photography, digital imaging, graphic design, website design, publicity, creative writing, and video. They also receive a hot meal. More than 100 children, all of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are currently participating in Fotokids activities.

The older students are involved in teaching the younger children and in turn are developing skills through involvement with the accounts and administration of the project.
 

If you would like to receive further information about Fotokids and the many other ways that WER is transforming lives across the world please send us your email address using the form below. 
 




 

]]> How is your support helping in Haiti? http://www.wer-uk.org/content/how-your-support-helping-haiti 2010-01-25T15:31:27+00:00 2010-02-02T10:26:35+00:00 superadmin The generosity of WER supporters is making a real difference to the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Below are a few examples how:

Direct cash grants of over $9,000 dollars have been sent to our local partners who even now are using this money to provide food, medicine and shelter.

]]> The generosity of WER supporters is making a real difference to the survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.

Below are a few examples how:

Direct cash grants of over $9,000 dollars have been sent to our local partners who even now are using this money to provide food, medicine and shelter.

At the Good Samaritan school Pastor Vincent is supplying food and shelter to over 1,000 people who are now living in the grounds.  Vincent is travelling to the Dominican Republic tomorrow to purchase tents, blankets, medicines and more to give to those in need.

A daily clinic has also been started in the school grounds.  Medicines brought in from the Dominican Republic together with supplies shipped in by WER will be used to provide vital treatment.

WER is supporting the shipment of over $2million worth of medical supplies into Port Au Prince.

But for those lucky enough to survive the earthquake the struggle carries on.

They have lost family and friends, their homes are gone.  More food and medicine is required now and in the near future reconstruction must begin.  Please help by donating now.

 

£20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at WER supported Good Samaritan school.  This will prevent them from dying because of sanitation problems during the crisis.
£50 will provide basic painkillers to over 100 people.  With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
£100 will allow us to provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
£150 will allow us to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.

Even just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week.

Any amount will save lives.

You can donate on our website at http://www.wer-uk.org/donate or by calling 0844 2492129.

For the latest news click here

 You can sign up to receive updates about Haiti below. WER does not give email addresses to third parties.

 




 

]]> Despite the chaos WER aid is getting through to Haiti. http://www.wer-uk.org/content/despite-chaos-wer-aid-getting-through-haiti 2010-01-21T11:17:46+00:00 2010-02-02T14:50:41+00:00 superadmin For the injured and sick in capital city Port au Prince and the slums of Cite Soleil, medicine is needed now.  WER is providing $2 million worth of pharmaceuticals through International Relief and Development (IRD).  These medicines will be in use by the end of the week and a further shipment of similar value will be sent next week. 

]]> For the injured and sick in capital city Port au Prince and the slums of Cite Soleil, medicine is needed now.  WER is providing $2 million worth of pharmaceuticals through International Relief and Development (IRD).  These medicines will be in use by the end of the week and a further shipment of similar value will be sent next week. 

WER has also sent doctors travel packs.  These mobile kits have the basic medical supplies to treat 4,000 people.  The packs, together with the pharmaceutical shipments, will not just help to save lives now.  Simple medicines like antibiotics will prevent infections that will in many cases save injured limbs from severe treatments like amputation.

Cite Soleil

Cite Soleil, the slum area surrounding capital city Port au Prince has been very badly affected.  Even at the best of times, life in Cite Soleil is a daily struggle but since the earthquake the situation has become much worse.  Through our partners working on the ground, WER is providing emergency goods to those in desperate need.

WER has provided cash grants to our local partner Pastor Astrel Vincent and the Good Samaritan School.  More than just a school, the Good Samaritan is a focal point for the local community.  The grounds are currently home to over 1000 people made homeless or injured in the earthquake.  Vincent is using the grants to secure food, water and emergency goods for these people and the local area.

Port au Prince

The chaotic response to the crisis in Port au Prince has been widely reported.  While the violence and riots have been over-played the situation is far from stable.  There is a very real danger that during this time aid will not reach those that need it the most.

Recognising this, WER is giving direct grants and aid to the St. Vincent Centre, which provides care for children with disabilities.  The staff have managed to relocate many of the children to a site outside of the capital and are now sourcing medicines and food.  The staff are also doing what they can to locate and help disabled people that have remained in the city.

In the Days Ahead

Many Haitian children have been orphaned by the earthquake and need immediate care and attention. WER will help 50 Haitian orphans who have reached homes in the Dominican Republic run by Kids Alive.   Moving the children outside of the danger zone will keep them safe but locating them in the Dominican Republic will ensure that they are still close to home in the event that a family member does come forward.

WER funded Integracion Juvenil (I.J), supports slum dwelling children from Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic.  Despite being desperately poor themselves the children have collected food and supplies for transport to Haiti. 

These pages will continue to be updated with details of the crisis and the WER response.
 

Please give immediately so that World Emergency Relief can help the victims now.

£20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at WER supported Good Samaritan school.  This will prevent them from dying because of sanitation problems during the crisis.
£50 will provide basic painkillers to over 100 people.  With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
£100 will allow us to provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
£150 will allow us to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.

Even just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week.

Any amount will save lives.

You can donate on our website at http://www.wer-uk.org/donate or by calling 0844 2492129.

For the latest news click here

 You can sign up to receive updates about Haiti below. WER does not give email addresses to third parties.

 




 

]]> We cannot lift all the bricks http://www.wer-uk.org/content/we-cannot-lift-all-bricks 2010-01-17T00:21:14+00:00 2010-01-21T08:33:55+00:00 admin The following is the latest update from Astrel Vincent - WER's main contact in Haiti.  Vincent is in Cite Soleil, the slum surrounding Port-au-Prince. 

]]> The following is the latest update from Astrel Vincent - WER's main contact in Haiti.  Vincent is in Cite Soleil, the slum surrounding Port-au-Prince. 

"We now have over 2000 people in what was the school yard with more arriving all the time.  I am very happy to report that my daughter Rachel is now with me and she is safe.  As you know there are a great many injured people here and the mood is very sombre.  I have been into the city.  The main street is completely destroyed, gone.  In Cite Soleil there are few buildings standing.  Near the school, the church has collapsed and many houses.  We simply cannot clear all the bricks and rubble which makes me so sad as I know there must be people beneath.    Everywhere people are crying.  The whole area smells very bad and I am worried about sanitation.  With the food we have this place has become a sanctuary.  Please thank the donors."

You can help the people of Haiti now.

Please give immediately so that we can air freight essential supplies in now.

£20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at WER supported Good Samaritan school.  This will prevent them from dying because of sanitation problems during the crisis.
£50 will provide basic painkillers to over 100 people.  With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
£100 will allow us to provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
£150 will allow us to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.

Even just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week.

Any amount will save lives.

You can donate on our website at http://www.wer-uk.org/donate or by calling 0844 2492129.

For the latest news click here

Picture courtesy of Reuters Alert Net

 You can sign up to receive updates about Haiti below. WER does not give email addresses to third parties.

 




 

]]> Update from Haiti - WER partners shaken but alive http://www.wer-uk.org/content/update-haiti-wer-partners-shaken-alive 2010-01-15T16:48:48+00:00 2010-02-02T14:55:14+00:00 superadmin WER Chief Executive Alex Haxton was last night greatly relieved to hear from our partners in Haiti from the Good Samaritan school.  Pastor Vincent, the school headmaster, got word through that he was shaken but unhurt.  The school has been badly damaged but stands and Vincent is currently administering to over 2000 people who have taken refuge in the grounds. Donate now to provide vital assistance to those in need.

]]> WER Chief Executive Alex Haxton was last night greatly relieved to hear from our partners in Haiti from the Good Samaritan school.  Pastor Vincent, the school headmaster, got word through that he was shaken but unhurt.  The school has been badly damaged but stands and Vincent is currently administering to over 2000 people who have taken refuge in the grounds. Donate now to provide vital assistance to those in need.

The mobile phone networks are not working and the only way to communicate with Haiti has been by email.  Last night Vincent sent the following message after walking to one of the few working connections.

"I can not believe that I have seen something like this in my lifetime.  The devastation is impossible to describe.  We now have about 2000 people in the school yard.  I am giving out the rice we have but we will soon run out.  A number of people have cuts and wounds, some bad.  We need medicine, a doctor and we also need water.  Please thank those that have sent help already.  I will be heading to the border to purchase more goods for the local community.   Many people will benefit from the emergency shipments you are sending.  I hope they will be here soon"

Please give immediately so that we can air freight essential supplies in now.

£20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at WER supported Good Samaritan school.  This will prevent them from dying because of sanitation problems during the crisis.
£50 will provide basic painkillers to over 100 people.  With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
£100 will allow us to provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
£150 will allow us to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.

Even just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week.

Any amount will save lives.

You can donate on our website at http://www.wer-uk.org/donate or by calling 0844 2492129.

For the latest news click here

Picture courtesy of Reuters Alert Net

 You can sign up to receive updates about Haiti below. WER does not give email addresses to third parties.

 




 

]]> Earthquake in Haiti - Emergency appeal http://www.wer-uk.org/content/earthquake-haiti-emergency-appeal 2010-01-13T10:13:21+00:00 2010-01-25T17:24:26+00:00 superadmin At 4.53pm local time on Tuesday 12th January Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake.  The worst affected areas are the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the surrounding slums of Cite Soleil. 

Thousands are feared dead already.  Many thousands more will die unless we respond immediately.  Please donate as much as you can now so that WER can immediately ship medicines, food, blankets and other emergency supplies.

]]> At 4.53pm local time on Tuesday 12th January Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake.  The worst affected areas are the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the surrounding slums of Cite Soleil. 

Thousands are feared dead already.  Many thousands more will die unless we respond immediately.  Please donate as much as you can now so that WER can immediately ship medicines, food, blankets and other emergency supplies.

WER Chief Executive, Alex Haxton, recently visited Cite Soleil.  Even at the best of times, living conditions there are appalling.  Sewage runs freely in the streets, many people have no access to safe water.  The poorest have so little money they must resort to eating mud cookies.

This earthquake will bring terrible hardship to a country that is utterly unequipped to cope with it.  There is simply no infrastructure to respond other than that provided by NGOs.  Already today I have spoken to suppliers and our local contacts and we are preparing to ship essential aid. 

Please give immediately so that we can air freight essential supplies in now.

£20 will provide rehydration treatment and safe water for all 150 students at WER supported Good Samaritan school.  This will prevent them from dying because of sanitation problems during the crisis.
£50 will provide basic painkillers to over 100 people.  With many thousands injured these kinds of medicines will often be the only anaesthetics available.
£100 will allow us to provide antibiotics to prevent infections.
£150 will allow us to ship a full box of medicines that will allow for the emergency treatment of around 500 patients.

Even just £5 is enough to provide food for a child for a whole week.

Any amount will save lives.

You can donate on our website at http://www.wer-uk.org/donate or by calling 0844 2492129.

For the latest news click here

Picture courtesy of Reuters Alert Net

 You can sign up to receive updates about Haiti below. WER does not give email addresses to third parties.

 




 

]]> New health clinic in Gitega http://www.wer-uk.org/content/new-health-clinic-gitega 2010-01-05T14:39:35+00:00 2010-02-02T14:56:04+00:00 admin A new Health Clinic is being opened in Gitega, Burundi thanks to funding from St. Mary’s Church Reigate.  Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world.  Hunger and disease are common in a country with extremely limited access to healthcare.  The new centre will treat and estimated 10,000 people in its first year.

]]> A new Health Clinic is being opened in Gitega, Burundi thanks to funding from St. Mary’s Church Reigate.  Burundi is one of the poorest countries in the world.  Hunger and disease are common in a country with extremely limited access to healthcare.  The new centre will treat and estimated 10,000 people in its first year.

Burundi has one of the lowest GDPs in the world and its people are mostly subsistence farmers.  Where healthcare is available it is all too often well out of the reach of ordinary families who struggle even to feed themselves.

WER has been working with local partner African Revival Ministries (ARM) since 1996 to bring long term relief to the area.

In Gitega ARM already operates an HIV/AIDS clinic and counselling centre that treats 150 patients plus families.   Thanks to the generosity of St. Mary's Church Reigate the existing HIV/AIDS centre at Gitega will now be expanded into a health clinic and nutrition centre that cares for the wider population and treats a much broader range of ailments.  In addition, by treating both sets of patients side by side, the clinic will help to break down the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.

In Burundi most people live in rural areas.  This makes access to medical facilities extremely difficult.  The nearest other health facility to the new clinic, 5 miles away, is a run-down government owned hospital.  It is the only one in the province but many are reluctant to go there unless desperate as it is unhygenic and overcrowded.

The new health centre is deliberately located so as to be accessible to the rural community and will provide health care free to those in poverty.  In a country where only 2.3% of the total government income is spent on healthcare, less than that spent on of ice cream in the UK, this will make a huge difference. 

The health centre will have a new consultation room, x-ray facilities and will offer dental treatments and gynaecological consultations.  There will be a new, fully-equipped pharmacy which will provide medicines to those in need. Finally, a new nutrition centre will provide residential treatment to over 30 malnourished children per week and out-patient treatment for up to 100 at-risk children per week.

The nutrition centre will not only provide food, it will also provide nutritional advice and education.  The land surrounding the health centre will be used to grow food and to teach people how to diversify their food supply.

As in many developing countries, HIV/AIDS poses a major threat to both individual sufferers and to the future economic and social development of Burundi. There were around 14,000 deaths last year from HIV/AIDS.  This is a tragedy in itself, but it also leaves around 150,000 AIDS orphans who face terrible hardship. 

Without decisive intervention these children will struggle to eat and have little chance of accessing education, meaning that they will never be able to escape poverty.  This further prevents them reaching their potential and achieving dreams of a normal life.  And there are even more children and young people whose parents are too ill to work, effectively shutting their children out of school.

ARM’s work in Burundi has already made a huge difference but the new health clinic will extend this much further, reaching out to the many rural poor in the area giving them hope for a better future.  With the massive increases in global food prices brought on by distant financial markets, the nutrition programme could not come at a more vital moment.

WER would like to thank the parisheners of St. Mary’s Church for their generosity. The effects of this new centre will be felt for many years to come.
 

]]> A Grim weekend for WER runners http://www.wer-uk.org/content/a-grim-weekend-wer-runners 2009-12-08T14:38:18+00:00 2010-01-07T09:44:30+00:00 superadmin

After one of the wettest weeks on record, the WER runners decided that rain was not enough last Sunday, there had to be mud as well.

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After one of the wettest weeks on record, the WER runners decided that rain was not enough last Sunday, there had to be mud as well. Team WER took part in the Grim Challenge in Aldershot, running through waist high water, mud, water and more mud.  All 22 runners completed the race despite what were, according to the organisers, the worst conditions they have ever had.  In this video Steve "Farmer" Lichfield braves one of the shallower puddles.  If you would like to take part in the Grim or other similar challenges, get in touch by emailing ben@wer-uk.org

A massive thank you to our teams:

Gnat’s Fearless Faeries
Natalie Duffy
Robert Davies
Andrew Schumacker

Delta
Derek Haggerty               
Jamie Smith
Tim Brown
Daniel Parkman

The Bog Standard
Ben Carter
Steve “Farmboy” Lichfield

Team Extreme
Mike Clark
Stephen Parry
Ben Allcock

Blacks Magic
Adam Whitehouse
Paul Griffin
Christopher Rose

All Blacks
Sebastian Hobbs
Ron Armstrong
Jo Burroughs

The Jaboolies
Mark Smith
Jessica Lindskog
Georges Lequime

Running Solo
Lisa O'Neill
 

 

 

]]> Latest update from DR Congo http://www.wer-uk.org/content/latest-update-dr-congo 2009-12-07T17:14:16+00:00 2010-02-02T14:57:40+00:00 superadmin  Pastor Ruben Kinyama, Director of local NGO ARM Congo, has been sending reports on the developing conflict in and around Marungu, DR Congo.  World Emergency Relief UK has just received the following update:

]]>  Pastor Ruben Kinyama, Director of local NGO ARM Congo, has been sending reports on the developing conflict in and around Marungu, DR Congo.  World Emergency Relief UK has just received the following update:

Marungu, in the east of DR Congo, is a remote and impoverished region subject to intermittent conflict.  In recent years the situation has improved due to a period of relative calm and the work of local NGOs and community groups but this is now under threat.   The security of the whole area has been thrown into turmoil by a Government troops crack down on rebel forces.    An influx of refugees and fleeing Interhamwe rebel fighters into Marungu has created a potentially volatile situation.  The local population are mostly ethnic Tutsis while the Interhamwe are largely Hutu who fled after the genocide in Rwanda.

“NGO’s are still not allowed to travel into the affected areas so I am dependent on phone reports and messages from the odd person who has been able to get out.

There is still heavy fighting in the south area of the Marungu district. Many villages in the Rubibi area have been evacuated and people are taking shelter for the time being in a nearby church and community centre. The latest news is that over 100 government soldiers have moved into Marungu town where our orphanage, the Emmanuel Centre, is located.

The mountains around Marungu, the market, the forest and other areas are now occupied by the Interhamwe rebel fighters. There have not been any battles or skirmishes over the past 10 days, but the situation is very tense. All access into the mountains is blocked except for the military.

I have heard that government soldiers and rebels alike have been taking cows, goats and the like from civilians.  The effects of this will be felt for a long time by hungry villagers.

Please continue to pray for peace, for the safety of the civilians and especially of the children. “

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