At a cramped police station serving as a makeshift clinic, Darline Derosier fastened IV drips to jail cell bars, wiped the brows of cholera patients and tended to the wounds of those injured when Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti’s southwestern peninsula. She was the only health worker helping about 40 patients Monday inside the station bereft of police as she waited for … [Read more...]
Vulnerable Sudanese continue to flee as aid pours in
The conflict that broke out in South Sudan on 15th December 2013 has left thousands dead and displaced hundreds of thousands more. Vulnerable populations continue to flee ongoing fighting in South Sudan as seasonal rains worsen their already dire living conditions. Oxfam are currently supporting people affected by the conflict with clean water, sanitation and emergency food … [Read more...]
South Africans urged to help fight hunger
Representative of the Gift of the Givers, Emily Thomas has urged South Africans to join them in fighting against hunger in the country. Speaking exclusively to SABC Digital News, Thomas said it was a privilege to give food to the needy on 'World Hunger Day'. World Hunger Day was aimed at finding sustainable solutions to ending extreme hunger and poverty. The United … [Read more...]
Church leaders pledge support for strike
A range of high-profile church and community leaders have issued a petition calling for humanitarian support to families in the platinum belt. “There is a humanitarian tragedy unfolding on the platinum belt. While supporting current attempts to reach a settlement to the dispute, the reality on the ground is that children, women and men do not have food, and hardship will … [Read more...]
Zimbabwe flood victims receive donations
Zimbabwe's largest diversified media group, Zimpapers, through its Zimpapers Digital-caring for communities initiative, handed over goods donated by readers which included food, blankets and clothes to victims of the Tsholotsho floods to the district's Civil Protection Unit. The truckload of goods were collected from readers all over Zimbabwe and Zimpapers staffers who were … [Read more...]
Soweto is mopped up after floods
Reconstruction is moving swiftly ahead in part of Soweto damaged by flash floods last week, while relief aid is being given to families whose homes were washed away. AN estimated R350-million will be spent by the City in "cleaning up and reconstructing" those parts of Soweto that were wrecked by flash floods last week. Gabu Tugwana, the City's director of communications, … [Read more...]
Housing for Christmas in the Philippines
To assist the people of the Philippines who have suffered unimaginable destruction and great personal loss Gift of the Givers has added a further dimension to their highly successful mission to this region. They are launching a project called "Housing for Christmas in the Philippines". In Palompon Island 7000 families have lost their homes in 51 districts. It is indeed … [Read more...]
A rough summer for Mindanao
A top-level crisis management team should be assigned in Mindanao to address challenges in areas badly hit by typhoon “Pablo.” The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) aired this proposal yesterday, citing the “rising death toll, the extent of damages, and the looming humanitarian crisis” as a result of the powerful storm. Mindanao is the second largest island in the … [Read more...]
Bee attacks raise concerns about city beekeeping
The recent dramatic bee attacks in the Western Cape have raised fresh concerns about the growing trend of urban beekeeping in South Africa. The recent incident saw more than thirty cyclists participating in a race being attacked by bees from a nearby hive – some riders had as many as 100 stings removed and others who were allergic had to be airlifted to hospital. Urban … [Read more...]
Another tragedy in the Congo
It has happened yet again, another African tragedy with more than 250 dead, 2000 wounded with varying degrees of severity including burns, mandatory amputations and major trauma. Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, represents a war zone with thousands of homes, businesses and two churches destroyed. Windows shattered four km away, civilians trapped under rubble, all the … [Read more...]
Sustainable building benefits communities and volunteers
Sustainability is spreading into communities via greener corporates who take their green commitment to the next level. Nedbank’s Caring for Communities initiative helps to entrench the values and benefits of sustainability in the lives of mainly rural communities. They undertook no fewer than 136 projects in 2011, assisting 59 separate schools and communities around the country … [Read more...]
Communities deal with aftermath of heavy rain and floods
The worst might be over, but now reality strikes. Hundreds of people in Mozambique, Limpopo and Mpumalanga must now pick up the pieces of their already difficult lives after heavy rain and floods left them destitute and the community in shambles. It might no longer be front page news, but have you given a thought the terrible trauma of piecing a life together after such … [Read more...]
A letter From Hugh Masekela
Growing up as a musician in South Africa I witnessed first hand the man-made obscenity that was apartheid and used music to protest against injustice. Apartheid is now consigned to the history books, but another obscenity still exists on our continent. A famine in Somalia that has killed 30,000 children in 3 months. Yet the current crisis is a man-made disaster that could … [Read more...]
