Category: CEDAR Blog

Week 3: Every Creeping Things on Earth

Did you know that the tiny creatures living in the soil are beneficial to plants? We learned about the ecosystem within the soil from our partner in Zimbabwe, Foundations for Farming (FfF). FfF has been teaching impoverished and marginalised farmers to look at the God’s creation at a micro level—there are lots of organic matter in soil, such as snails, ants, earthworms, and bacterium that improve soil fertility, and as they move, they help create channels for better infiltration of water and air. However, ploughing and digging in conventional farming often hamper their growth, which in turn hardens the soil over time and ultimately leads to the loss of water and nutrients. Mulching is the

TV Programmes That Could Benefit Children across the Middle East

Christianity was born in the Middle East, a region rich in culture, history, yet also, full of turbulence and persecution. SAT-7 is a Christian media network, making God’s love visible across the Middle East and North Africa through uncensored satellite television programme. Satellite television effectively break the barriers of religions, literacy, and censorship, making SAT-7’s programmes available to be broadcast across the Middle East and North Africa and accessible online internationally. CEDAR is supporting SAT-7’s new channel – SAT-7 Academy (launched in September). The channel produces holistic programmes, covering topics like education, health, and social development, for 6 million refugee and internally displaced children, and 15 million people who did not have access to proper education in the

Act Now! Walk with Rohingya Refugees for the Next 6 Months

Banner image: This was taken when an IA member organisation visited refugees in Bangladesh. The site was filled with makeshift shelters Rohingya build for themselves In August, the Rohingya people received attention from the international community once again. Since late August, violence and conflicts in Rakhine state, Myanmar have caused at least 620,000 Rohingya to flee to Cox’s Bazar in the southeast part of Bangladesh. According to the United Nations, there are about 1.2 million people – including the 200,000 Rohingya arrived before the new influx in August and host communities – in need of assistance. Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB), a local Christian relief organisation in Bangladesh, told us that many Rohingya families have established themselves

CEDAR Works with IA to Plan for Humanitarian Response to Rohingya Refugees in Western Myanmar

The crisis in Rakhine state, in Western Myanmar, is not new. Rakhine state is one of the least developed states in Myanmar, being prone to natural disasters from storms and cyclones. The socio-economic situation there has deteriorated since the outbreak of intercommunal violence in 2012. Renewed tensions in northern Rakhine state in August have displaced Rohingya communities (mainly Muslims) and many fled to Bangladesh. According to the update provided by the Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) of International Organization for Migration (IOM) on 26 September: 480,000 accumulative arrivals (since 25 August) 190,000 people in makeshift settlements/camps 201,000 arrivals in new spontaneous sites 89,000 in host communities On 21 September, Integral Alliance (IA) members Medical Teams International, Medair, and World Concern

South Asia Floods Relief Enters New Stage

Banner Image: CEDAR’s partner, ACN, in Nepal has been distributing much-needed relief aid to vulnerable families Nepal, India, and Bangladesh have been facing the worst monsoon rains in 15 years, triggering severe flooding across the three countries. Over 1,200 people have been killed, and 41 million people have been affected. CEDAR’s partners begun their responses the week after the flooding intensified. The initial responses were carried out in Nawalparasi district in central Nepal and Bihar state in northern India, providing emergency relief items for affected communities. The response is entering a new stage right now. CEDAR has allocated funds for Asal Chhimekee Nepal (ACN) in Nepal to provide hygiene kits and winter items for 600 households and provide

41 Million Affected by Heavy Flooding in South Asia

Banner image: Incessant rainfalls have triggered widespread flooding in South Asia, affecting over 41 million people, including vulnerable women and children. Torrential downpour have caused severe and widespread flooding in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, killing 1,200 people and affecting 41 million people. Countless homes have been damaged and destroyed. Many are displaced and deprived of food and water for days. The region’s monsoon season last from June till September every year, but some aid agencies said things are worse this year. The United Nations said the situation could possibly deteriorate further as rains continue in some flood-affected areas and flood waters move south. In India, over 32 million people are affected. Several rivers are flowing at dangerous levels

South Asia Floods: the Disaster That Didn’t Make Headlines

Incessant rainfalls in South Asia have triggered massive floods and landslides, destroying farmlands, houses and roads, as well as killing innocent lives. It is estimated that up to 41 million people are affected in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, where over a million people are displaced. Survivors are experiencing food and water shortages, and humanitarian workers fear the outbreak of waterborne diseases. CEDAR’s Nepali partner, Asal Chhimekee Nepal (A.C.N.) visited some flood-stricken villages last week to evaluate the situation and plan for a relief response. In a small village, community members lived in huts made of straw, and most of the houses were smashed and sandwiched by the flood. All the food they had stored were either swept away

Keep Haiti in Our Prayer

The Haiti hurricane happened a month and a half ago and we have been keeping in touch with the rescuers and organizations. The restoration progress was far from optimal, in some case degrading, in Haiti with emerging health and sheltering challenges. Our prayers and awareness to the conditions of this island country in the Pacific is still sorely needed though media interest has died down. Pajé, a teacher who fortunately escaped to a town nearby with her mom during the hurricane Matthew, was greeted by seriously destroyed debris when she returned home. Tears came down as she found that place could no longer be called home with the entire roof gone. She is in desperate need of a

Haiti Hurricane Matthew Update

Integral Alliance launched a Disaster Response for Hurricane Matthew on 6/10/16. Seventeen Integral Members have now opted into the response, with a further one considering how they can be involved … Overall it is estimated that 1.4 million people have been affected by this Category 4 Hurricane which struck the southwest coast of Haiti 0700 local time (1200 GMT) on 4 October. According to the latest government figures, 1,410,900 people, including 592,600 children, are in need of humanitarian aid. So far, at least 1,000 people have been reported dead. More than 200,000 houses have been severely damaged or destroyed. [Source here]. Six of our Members have existing long term work in Haiti – Food for the Hungry (USA), Medical Teams International

Pray for and Support the Hurricane-Affected Haitians

According to the Haitian Ministry of Interior, more than 19% of the Haitian population -2,1 million persons- has been affected by the hurricane and more than 12% -1,4 million persons- are in need of urgent assistance in different departments of the country. [ReliefWeb] After years of drought, Haiti was predicted to have a good harvest this year; however, the hurricane destroyed most of the crops in affected areas. Please pray for the affected families, particularly those who are most vulnerable. Pray that they will have emergency food assistance and plenty of food supply in the coming months. Madam Viergela Sainmistil standing by the remains of her belongings Up till now, at least 14,530 people displaced. Pray for God’s protection to them and for safe shelters.