So often my heart breaks over the thousands of lives lost in this violent genocide. Hundreds of thousands are living in tents in refugee camps (which does not ensure their safety either).
If you don't know the history, the extremity of the situation, or how you can help-please ask me...I'm always happy to talk about it with you.
My organization, Church World Service, works in Sudan and had this update to share today...
DARFUR
400,000 dead,
400,000 dead,
2.5 million displaced,
10,000 dying every month
Sudan--Hopes that the signing of a Darfur peace agreement in May 2006 would help settle one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises have been dashed. Instead, the situation in Darfur has deteriorated steadily.
Since July 2004, CWS has supported the work of the Action by Churches Together (ACT)-Caritas coalition, a joint ecumenical operation that combines the efforts of more than 60 organizations in responding to needs in Darfur.
Successful CWS-supported efforts in the last three years include: construction or rehabilitation of 22 clinics and two rural hospitals (all providing mother and child health care), 240 wells, and 34 schools; delivery of non-food packages to over 65,000 households; supplementary feeding for children and pregnant or lactating mothers; and psychosocial and counseling programs.
In 2007, CWS will be helping ACT to assist displaced families in a number of ways, including constructing 82 new water points and rehabilitating and maintaining others; constructing 1,150 latrines and rehabilitating 2,025 others; and mobilizing communities to manage their own environment and sanitation.
Conflict-affected communities will have access to ten ACT-run clinics in camps, one in a host community, and two mobile clinics, and up to 12,000 children and 8,000 lactating or pregnant women will receive nutritional assistance.
And plans call for more than 5,000 households to participate in trainings in improved farming methods. They’ll also receive seeds, tools, and assistance in creating and maintaining 31,000 trees in community-owned nurseries--trees that will be distributed mostly to female-headed households.
Plans are also underway to build seven schools and rehabilitate and maintain others, along with the provision of school materials, recruitment of female teachers, training for administrators, and encouragement for female students.
Emergency response and preparedness training for local partners is also planned, along with assistance to communities in dealing with trauma, taking charge of their own protection needs, and supporting them in working towards building a sustainable peace.
For more information on CWS response to the Darfur crisis, visit
www.churchworldservice.org.
Sudan--Hopes that the signing of a Darfur peace agreement in May 2006 would help settle one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises have been dashed. Instead, the situation in Darfur has deteriorated steadily.
Since July 2004, CWS has supported the work of the Action by Churches Together (ACT)-Caritas coalition, a joint ecumenical operation that combines the efforts of more than 60 organizations in responding to needs in Darfur.
Successful CWS-supported efforts in the last three years include: construction or rehabilitation of 22 clinics and two rural hospitals (all providing mother and child health care), 240 wells, and 34 schools; delivery of non-food packages to over 65,000 households; supplementary feeding for children and pregnant or lactating mothers; and psychosocial and counseling programs.
In 2007, CWS will be helping ACT to assist displaced families in a number of ways, including constructing 82 new water points and rehabilitating and maintaining others; constructing 1,150 latrines and rehabilitating 2,025 others; and mobilizing communities to manage their own environment and sanitation.
Conflict-affected communities will have access to ten ACT-run clinics in camps, one in a host community, and two mobile clinics, and up to 12,000 children and 8,000 lactating or pregnant women will receive nutritional assistance.
And plans call for more than 5,000 households to participate in trainings in improved farming methods. They’ll also receive seeds, tools, and assistance in creating and maintaining 31,000 trees in community-owned nurseries--trees that will be distributed mostly to female-headed households.
Plans are also underway to build seven schools and rehabilitate and maintain others, along with the provision of school materials, recruitment of female teachers, training for administrators, and encouragement for female students.
Emergency response and preparedness training for local partners is also planned, along with assistance to communities in dealing with trauma, taking charge of their own protection needs, and supporting them in working towards building a sustainable peace.
For more information on CWS response to the Darfur crisis, visit
www.churchworldservice.org.
SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Multimedia" that's worth checking out...
Video…
Another highlight of the weekend was running into some dear friends from my days in Evansville, Rachel & Eric Rutherford. Eric & Rachel helped Jeff with the college ministry at U of Evansville and were dear friends of ours. I haven't seen them in a while and so it was WONDERFUL to have so much time together!The Rutherfords have recently relocated to Louisville and are excited to welcome their second little girl to their family this spring! It was really fun to spend time together with them over our lunches Sat & Sunday. 
Apparently Ryan knew he was getting Guitar Hero II from me-as evidenced by him "playing the box". :) He was pretty happy with his favorite baseball team winning the World Series and equally happy that his parents got him an Albert Puljos jersey! AND my parents got him his greatly desired Walter Payton jersey! Go sports!? ;)
