Author: CEDAR Fund

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

LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2024

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, Happy New Year 2024! The beginning of a new year is always full of anticipation and unknowns. What do we ‘see’? What is God doing in us and through us this coming year? How do we respond? While the word ‘new’ connotates freshness and hope, it can also take on a darker meaning. New violence and conflicts. New ways of human exploitation. Washington Post warns, ‘A historic rise in global conflict deaths suggests a violent new era.’ Ukraine, Israel-Palestine, Ethiopia, India, Myanmar ── some conflicts caught the world’s attention, while others remain protracted and unseen, with people suffering and dying in neglect. Even human trafficking is taking on a new face. The organised

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

Marginalised Communities Oppressed under Caste Culture

Written by: Gloria Cheung (Senior Communications Officer) Two of our staff members and two pastors from a church supporting CEDAR’s ministry visited the Chitwan region in Nepal in mid-November. They visited Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS), a longstanding partner in the area, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Dalits, particularly vulnerable women and children. Dalits, labelled as the lowest ‘untouchable’ caste in the unequal caste system, are a group that is susceptible to trafficking and exploitation. CEDAR and our partner have established a community centre in the Chitwan region to combat human trafficking. We took a group photo in front of the centre. Two fellow pastors are learning about the latest developments in the ministry

2023 CEDAR Barefoot Walk: More Than We Could Ask For

Written by: Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) We thank our Father for how real His help is. The Lord has boosted our staff’s morale through the Barefoot Walk when society’s sentiments are low, and offertory levels are trending down. Preparation for the Barefoot Walk usually takes a whole year. This time, we started to prepare the Barefoot Walk as early as 2020. Before COVID, we were in talks with Abounding Grace Baptist Church to co-organise the Barefoot Walk and agreed on the route in Tsz Wan Shan. Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced a delay in the activity, and it was not until 2023 that the two organisations could join hands to make it happen. We are incredibly

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