CWS appeal: Gaza humanitarian crisis

Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem, courtesy www.alertnet.org

Israel has announced plans to halt its military operations near Gaza city for three hours a day in order to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Reuters Alertnet reports. (Hamas, meanwhile, has said it will stop launching rockets into Israel during the three-hour intervals.) At the same time, the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN saying movement of its staff responding to Palestinian refugees has been restricted, and the UN news agency IRIN reporting that civilians are having difficulty finding food.

Church World Service is supporting efforts as a member of the Action by Churches Together International alliance. ACT efforts include those of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)'s Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), International Orthodox Christian Charities, the Lutheran World Federation and Norwegian Church Aid, all long-time CWS partners.   Read more »

CWS appeal: Darfur (Sudan) humanitarian response

Photo: Chris Herlinger/CWS

The humanitarian crisis in the western region of Darfur, Sudan, is now entering its sixth year, and has developed into an increasingly complex situation, with Darfur rebel groups fragmenting, and inter-tribal conflict increasing, with each group seeking to seize and hold its own territory.

Response: CWS continues its support of the joint Action by Churches Together Alliance and Caritas Internationalis Confederation program, which is cooperating in a joint emergency response under the auspices of CWS partner Norwegian Church Aid.   Read more »

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