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Tag: Humanitarian Relief and Disaster Risk Reduction

LETTER FROM CEDAR | JAN 2025

Dear CEDAR friends and supporters, The UN Humanitarian Affairs Office (OCHA) reported in November that ‘2024 is the deadliest year ever for humanitarian workers’, with 281 killed globally. Relief work is getting more and more dangerous. At the same time, the violence against aid workers also reflects the fact that more civilians are being killed in conflict zones. Indeed, according to the United Nations, civilian deaths in armed conflicts surged by a shocking 72% in 2023. Four in ten civilians killed in conflicts are women, and three in ten are children. Conflict-related sexual violence against women and girls rose by 50% in 2023, an appalling increase. The Institute for Economics & Peace reports that we are living in

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‘SHARE’ 255 – Walking with the Afflicted: Seeing Hope in Weariness

Editor’s note: In this issue of SHARE, we share how to walk with those suffering in a turbulent world. ‘Focus’ shows us how to hold on to faith despite exhaustion amid global conflicts and disasters. ‘Learn a Little More’ provides an overview of the current state of conflict and peace around the globe and shares CEDAR’s work in Myanmar and Lebanon. Through the parable of the Good Samaritan, ‘Back to the Bible’ reminds us of loving our neighbour regardless of race and emphasises the teaching of continuous help to our neighbour. May we find the strength to walk with the conflict-stricken poor. ARTICLES OF THIS ISSUE Download this issue

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Global Conflicts and Peace

Written by Clara Chiu (Head of Partnership Development) Throughout the long process of human history, conflicts have often led to waves of refugees, displacing countless families. Those who migrate internally are known as ‘Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs), while those who leave their home country and seek refuge in a neighbouring country are known as ‘Refugees’. These conflicts can be caused by political struggles, religious persecution, ethnic conflicts, and so on. The Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an Australian think tank, released the 18th edition of the Global Peace Index 2024 (GPI) in June 2024. The report ranks the level of peace in 163 independent countries and territories, covering 99.7% of the world’s population. The report states that

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‘SHARE’ 255 – Walking with the Afflicted: Seeing Hope in Weariness

Written by Ken Wong (Communications Officer) In a turbulent world, news of wars and disasters always surrounds us. In Afghanistan, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Myanmar, the war has devastated countless families, as if there is no end in sight. Although we are not directly affected in Hong Kong, we may still feel powerless and exhausted from the perspective of supporters, donors and bystanders—tiredness that comes from the depths of our hearts and is difficult to resolve. This weariness comes not only from our inability to quickly resolve the problems of war and the problems it brings but also from ‘information fatigue’ and ‘compassion fatigue’. Every day, our screens are filled with tragic news, but there is little glimmer of

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Lebanon Winter Relief

Lebanon is facing an unprecedented crisis. Economic collapse, the Syrian refugee situation, and the ripple effects of the Israel-Hamas war have intensified conflicts between Israel and Lebanon, forcing countless Lebanese people to flee their homes and fall into poverty. Syrian refugees living in makeshift tents or poor shelters are also facing severe hardships. As winter approaches, humanitarian needs are rapidly increasing. Low temperatures bring bitter cold, while seasonal storms cause melting snow, blocked drains, flooding, and landslides due to heavy rain and poor infrastructure. These challenges urgently require our prayers and support. Have you ever thought about families without heating equipment, relying on burning rubbish to keep warm? Last year, 30% of Syrian refugee families had no access

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Response to the Wayanad Landslide in India

On 30 July 2024, multiple landslides occurred in the northern part of the Wayanad district of Kerala state in India. As of 9 August, the disaster resulted in the killing of 427 people, with 131 being reported missing. According to the authority’s figure, on 13 August, over 1,700 people were sheltered in 15 relief camps. The affected region received 570mm of rainfall in the two days leading up to the tragedy. This landslide was marked as one of the worst-hit disasters in the history of Kerala. The research conducted by World Weather Attribution, an international group of researchers, revealed that the heavy rainfall during the early hours of 30 July, which caused the landslides, is the third heaviest

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Assam Flood Response

The Assam state of India has experienced unprecedented floods this year, with unexpected timing and intensity. The deluge was caused by incessant rainfall in late June, which affected millions and devastated vast areas. According to The Hindu, as of 21 July 2024, the death toll in this year’s flood, lightning and storm had increased to 113. In early July, the government had set up 489 relief camps and distribution centres in 21 districts, providing shelter to 286,776 people. Karimganj district was one of the worst hit by the flood, with 300 villages affected. Countless homes have been damaged, and families have been displaced. They face critical food shortages and urgent medical needs. The affected communities are confronted with

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Afghanistan Flood and Bangladesh Cyclone Relief

On 10 and 11 May 2024, the northeastern provinces of Afghanistan, including Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Takhar, were hit by heavy rain and flash floods. At least 180 people have lost their lives, 242 have been injured, and a total of 8,975 houses have been destroyed or damaged, with 80% of the fatalities concentrated in Baghlan province. Bangladesh’s first tropical cyclone of the year, Cyclone Remal, made landfall in southern Bangladesh on the evening of Sunday, 26 May 2024. The adjacent western part of India was also affected, with wind speeds reaching up to 135 km/h. The cyclone resulted in at least 23 deaths and nearly one million people were evacuated to about 9,000 shelters. Over 8.4 million people,

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Assistance to Myanmar Refugees

Myanmar has long been suffering from internal conflicts, and the Kachin State in the north has become a critical conflict zone between the military junta and the ethnic militias. Recently, the conflict has spread throughout the state, with airstrikes bombing many areas, forcing over 100,000 civilians to flee their homes and become internally displaced persons in Kachin state. You might go to a reliable place like a hospital or police station; meanwhile, villagers in Kachin State face increasingly dire situations, flocking to churches for shelter. ‘Three days ago, I gave birth to my child, and my body hadn’t fully recovered when suddenly there was a massive explosion. Soon, the entire village was engulfed in flames. To escape the

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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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