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Tag: Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Risk Reduction

India Cyclone Michaung Relief

Last December, Cyclone Michaung wreaked havoc in India, causing widespread rainfall-induced disasters in the southern regions. The floods resulted in at least 25 deaths and extensive collapse and inundation of homes. A significant number of affected families had to be urgently evacuated from low-lying areas to safer locations, leaving their lives in disarray. In the severely affected Tamil Nadu state, torrential rain flooded multiple buildings, including government hospitals, railway stations, and residential homes. Numerous roads were damaged due to the floods. The strong winds caused many makeshift houses to collapse, forcing the residents to seek temporary shelter in tents. There is an urgent need for food support for these displaced individuals. Additionally, the floods submerged extensive farmlands, and

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Winter Assistance to Syrians 2023-24

Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, millions of Syrian refugees have sought refuge in neighbouring Lebanon to escape the conflict, living a life of displacement and uncertainty. Unfortunately, Lebanon itself has been facing its worst economic crisis in a century, according to the World Bank. As a result, nearly four million people in Lebanon currently rely on humanitarian aid to survive. As the winter months from November to March approach, Lebanon will face severe weather conditions. The harsh winter weather, including blizzards, landslides, and flooding, poses a constant threat to Syrian refugees living in temporary tents or rough dwelling places. Additionally, in some parts of Lebanon, temperatures drop below freezing, making it even more

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Afghanistan Earthquake Relief

Afghanistan, which has already been grappling with humanitarian and economic crises for many years, experienced a series of earthquakes in the city of Herat in western Afghanistan from 7 to 15 October. At least four of them were of magnitude six or above, making people’s lives even more difficult. Earlier in the news, it was announced that more than 2,000 people lost their lives and thousands were injured. According to the UN’s data as of 14 October, although the official casualty figures were adjusted downward, more than 1,300 people have still lost their lives, and over 1,800 people were injured. In addition, a partner of CEDAR informed us that about 1,320 houses have been completely destroyed, and about

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Bringing Hope to Victims in Syria

Written by: Ken Wong (Communications Officer) On 2 February, Turkey and Syria were rocked by two major earthquakes and multiple aftershocks that killed more than 50,000 people and injured more than 120,000. According to WHO officials, Syria has already been in a deep humanitarian crisis for years due to war and cholera, and the country can in no way deal with the aftermath of earthquakes, whether in the near or mid-term. The earthquakes have wreaked havoc that far exceeded the damage caused by shelling during the civil war. Worse, earthquakes gave no warning. Despite the extreme challenges, towering fears and shattering fatigue, however, CEDAR partners have, by the grace of the Lord, done their utmost to provide for

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Myanmar Cyclone Relief

Cyclone Mocha hit the coastlines of western Myanmar on 14 May. 150 lives were lost as it rampaged through the country. Rakhine state was devastated. More than 5.1 million people were struck by the disaster, many of whom are vulnerable groups, including internally displaced and undocumented persons. Homes, communication towers and road infrastructure were turned into wreckage. The water source was polluted because of the destruction of hundreds of wells and toilets. Many families were deprived of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities. The residents of Rakhine are tormented by diarrhoea and infectious diseases. In recent years, the Burmese have been afflicted by the civil war. They have been living under threatened food supply and

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The Pain and Anger on the Journey of Poverty Relief

Written by: Ken Wong (Communications Officer) Have you ever had such an experience? When you were trying hard to tackle a problem, not only did other people fail to lend a helping hand, instead they added more nuisance and trouble to your situation. Our ministry in Bangladesh is facing such a situation, and we urgently need your prayers. Bangladesh is situated in the North of the Bay of Bengal. The southern coastal region of the country is frequently affected by typhoons and different types of flooding. As climate change accelerates, the frequency and intensity of these disasters are also increasing. Disasters significantly impact the poor and marginalised population, as they depend primarily on agriculture and fishery for a

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PARIBARTAN – Climate change adaptation and transforming gender relationships in Patuakhali district, Bangladesh

Project Name PARIBARTAN – Climate change adaptation and transforming gender relationships in Patuakhali district, Bangladesh Project Location Bangladesh Project Natures Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Risk Reduction Livelihood Development Project Objectives Empowering communities to enhance their ability to resist disaster risks and climate change. Reducing gender-based violence and promoting gender equality through the practice of the Transforming Masculinities approach. Promoting climate-adaptive agricultural techniques and training to increase livelihood options. Beneficiaries Community members in 123 villages in the Kalapara region, including members of minority religious groups within the most vulnerable groups (such as farmers, fishermen, temporary workers, children, victims and survivors of gender-based violence, and people with disabilities) No. of Beneficiaries 3,815 Key Activities With the support of the local

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EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN SYRIA

「去年冬天,我和家人凍得要死了。我們買不起木材或燃料來取暖。我們唯有燒掉所有可以燃燒的東西,從尼龍布到鞋子。每次下雨,雨水都會從屋頂漏進屋內,我們不得不到處放水桶。在暴風雪中,我們的屋頂在雪的重壓下倒塌。」 在香港生活,我們未必能夠親身感受寒冬如何致命,但透過以上文字,我們都可以知道,寒冬時刻為貧窮人帶來威脅。 Khadija(化名)的慘痛不只以上描述、在冬天掙扎求存。她和家人原本居住在敘利亞,生活安全而且一無所缺。直至2011年敘利亞爆發內戰,她的家園被毀,連同她和家人的美滿生活都毀於一旦。2014年她和孩子逃到黎巴嫩,期間由坐車改為徒步翻山越嶺,因為兩國間的邊境已經關閉。 幾經辛苦,她和孩子逃到黎巴嫩,但家庭已經分散,因為丈夫年老,亦有孩子太年幼,他們都無法逃走。Khadija自此沒有見過留在敘利亞的家人。 她和家人在黎巴嫩東部的難民營生活,要自行──以木頭和防水帆布──搭建帳篷,合共八人就這樣在異地住了下來。期間,Khadija的兒子和媳婦誕下兩個女兒。Khadija每日都要為家庭的開銷苦惱。 沒有固定的收入來源,Khadija和家人只能依靠援助生活。例如聯合國會向個別已登記的難民每人每月發放折合約港幣$97的現金(以受訪時的匯率計算),每個家庭以六個人為上限。換言之,Khadija一家八口只有靠約港幣$580度日(編按:據施達在當地的夥伴所說,聯合國將會減少援助總數約四分之一的難民家庭,如果Khadija不幸失去這分援助,她的情況就更嚴峻了)。當夏天的時候,Khadija可以做散工,賺取每日折合約港幣$11的工資,而到了冬天就連賺取微薄收入的機會也沒有;但是她們有恆常的開支,例如租金需要港幣$58,而公共電力費用需要港幣$97──這裏已佔Khadija家庭四分之一的收入。加上黎巴嫩通貨膨脹失控,日常生活開銷急劇增加,令Khadija承受巨大的財政壓力。 「營地的生活愈來愈難以忍受。我們需要的大部分東西,我們都無法得到,甚至麵包也變得太貴了……沒有甚麼東西是我們不需要的。」 難民營的生活令人難以忍受,Khadija和家人要節衣縮食才能糊口,她們一天只可以食一餐,而且只有麵包;讓孩子入學更加是遙不可及的夢。Khadija亦因為沒有足夠金錢,所以病了也無法購買藥物治病。至於供應家庭電力的發電機,他們更加不可能有餘裕購買(當地政府每日只有數小時供電)。 當地教會弟兄對Khadija的家庭伸出援手,例如曾經提供食物盒(過去一年已經停止),而且屋頂塌陷教會的弟兄也會幫手修補。然而,現實始終令Khadija無法心安: 「我們非常擔心即將到來的冬天,它可能像上一個冬天一樣糟糕,甚至更糟。 我們急切需要床墊和毛毯,你看我們這裏連一件都沒有。我的兒子和他的妻子只有兩條小毯子,儘管他們有兩個孩子,並且正懷着第三個孩子。我們無法讓所有人都保持溫暖。今年的物價比往年更貴,我們甚麼都買不起。」 Khadija一家不單要面對流離失所,物價騰貴,更令人覺得心酸是在寒冬中他們只能瑟縮家裏;但這個家的屋頂可能隨時被積雪的重量壓垮,因為去年屋頂就曾經倒塌,幸好沒有人因此受傷。可是又一個凜冬將至,Khadija和家人要再次面對冬寒刺骨的威脅。 施達今年仍然會與當地夥伴合作,撥款港幣$234,000支援在敘利亞和黎巴嫩因為戰火而陷入困境的貧窮人,預計總共幫助47,950人次。面對冬寒他們無可奈何,但我們住在香港吃得飽、穿得暖的同時,願意為他們奉獻微小的關愛,讓在困境和威脅中的難民及當地貧民有得到溫飽的機會嗎? 項目詳情: 敘利亞: 在12個地區向貧窮家庭派發:毛毯、靴子、帽子、保暖衣,預計幫助26,950人次。 黎巴嫩: 在4個地區向貧窮家庭派發:毛毯、床墊、保暖衣、應急照明燈、防水帆布、地毯、燃料券,預計幫助21,000人次。 請支持貧窮家庭,你可以奉獻: 每月港幣$200 為1個家庭提供毛毯及床墊 每月港幣$400 為1個家庭提供靴子、帽子及保暖衣 每月港幣$900 為2個家庭提供應急照明燈、防水帆布及地毯 每月港幣$1,200 為5個家庭提供燃料劵 網上奉獻 事工報告 敘利亞寒冬送暖2021-22事工報告 奉獻方法 (請註明:「敘利亞寒冬送暖」2022-23) 如籌得奉獻金額超出以上資助撥款,餘款將撥入本會設立的「緊急救援及災前預防儲備金」,以助我們日後迅速回應各地的災難,減輕災難對社區的影響。

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