The deadlock has pushed Sudan into being a "forgotten" conflict.

Sudan's reality

If this were a film, its script would be criticised for overusing every dramatic device.

Looting, rape, executions, and bombings. The horrors of a dirty war are compounded by families driven into exile, legions of starving children, and a cholera epidemic amidst torrential downpours.

Yet, this is the reality of Sudan after 17 months of war.

The United States estimates that the conflict has killed more than 150,000 civilians.

According to the International Organisation for Migration, 11 million people have been displaced within the country, a figure exacerbated by flooding and famine.

Hunger plagues 25 million Sudanese, more than half the population, while rival armies hinder humanitarian aid.

The United Nations has called it "one of the worst humanitarian crises" of our time.

Humanitarian help needed

In the face of international indifference, humanitarian organisations have called for help and action to "put Sudan back on track."

"The international community must mobilise," UNICEF urged this month, arguing that there was "no excuse."

In France, the topic is rarely discussed.

"Sudan is not within our political geography, and it is more covered in Arab and Anglo-Saxon media," said Thierry Vircoulon, a researcher associated with the French Institute of International Relations.

"Humanitarians and journalists have limited access; Sudan is vast, and the fighting occurs on multiple fronts. It's extremely difficult to report on the situation."

Fratricidal conflict

The genesis of this war is a fratricidal conflict between General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, head of the regular army, and General Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemetti, leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The former is supported by the old Islamist regime and Khartoum elites, while the latter comes from the Arab Janjaweed militias involved in the Darfur genocide two decades ago.

Together, the two generals overthrew the democratic transitional government established after the fall of Omar Al-Bashir's Islamist dictatorship in 2021.

However, their ambitions clashed, leading to war on April 15, 2023. Their rivalry has unleashed local militias, igniting local conflicts and ethnic tensions.

Initially, major powers failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation.

"No one imagined that this war would last," said Roland Marchal, a sociologist and researcher at CNRS, France's National Center for Scientific Research.

"For U.S. President Joe Biden, Africa has never been a priority. U.S. diplomatic responses have been inconsistent, while Europeans have remained passive, following suit but divided.

From the outset, the silence of China, Sudan's primary trading partner, and Russia has compounded limited the Western response to Sudan."

Regional influence

This gap has allowed other types of interventions.

The ambitions of the two rival generals are cemented by support from regional actors attracted by the strategic importance of a country located between the Sahel and the Red Sea.

"The situation became particularly complex with the rivalries among nations of the Arabian Peninsula," continues the expert.

By providing additional resources without facing any sanctions, these nations have allowed the war to persist.

Their rhetoric and calls for de-escalation did not reflect the reality on the ground, further complicating efforts to understand this conflict and delaying any resolution."

While Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, and recently Iran supported government forces, General Hemetti has received crucial backing from the United Arab Emirates while also establishing ties with Russia through gold smuggling and the Wagner Group.

"With the involvement of Russians and Iranians alongside the regular army, an alliance is emerging that could reflect international fractures and complicate matters even further," Marchal explained.

Russia, for its part, is eyeing a naval base in Port Sudan on the Red Sea, raising concerns within the Western bloc. For now, the entangled rival coalitions hinder any resolution to the war.

"Both sides will continue fighting as long as they have the means, thanks to their allies," Vircoulon said.

Arms trade

To fuel the fighting, the arms trade is king.

"A constant flow of weapons is sustaining the conflict," warned Amnesty International.

Despite an embargo, arms are being delivered to Sudan, particularly Darfur, from China, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Amidst growing chaos, mediation attempts are underway. Since August 14, negotiations have been held in Geneva, initiated by the United States.

However, General Al-Burhan, who leads the army, refuses to sit across from his enemy. Nevertheless, he has allowed the opening of the Chadian border post at Adré, and 15 trucks have recently crossed to deliver humanitarian aid to Darfur.

In Sudan's powder keg, the fighting continues, with shockwaves fueling regional instability. According to Thierry Vircoulon,

"It's a fight to the death for power," a fight that is tearing Sudan apart.

• First reported in La Croix International
• Vanessa Dougnac is a journalist for La Croix International

Not somewhere in the left-right-out corner either. On the front line. Just as she was in this picture (front) when she was packing medical supplies.

This isn't a sudden whim. She and her American-based partner Jason Zan have been providing hands-on support in Ukraine since the 2022 invasion.

In August, the couple intend returning to feed hungry soldiers and civilians via a semi-mobile food kitchen.

They're targeting areas with the most need, possibly Kharkiv or Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, Campbell says.

Horrific situation

She describes the situation in Ukraine as "horrific" and said during her latest visit Kharkiv was hit about four times in a week.

Animals as well as people are traumatised, homeless and in need of support. Some die.

"I was working in the northern end of the city and could feel and hear the missile strikes and at least one of those strikes killed a whole family.

"This time it felt very different, and I saw how people who have worked tirelessly and bravely for two years trying to hold the line are feeling the strain and looking tired.

"The mental toll it's taking on both soldiers and civilians is massive. This only motivates us to want to return to help in any way we can."

Why do it?

Campbell says she finds it hard to explain why she and Zan are willing to put their safety at risk for the Ukrainian people. They're not Ukrainian and have no Ukrainian relatives.

"It's hard to put in a few words, but I think it was seeing how the people of Ukraine are so determined to keep fighting ... Their unbreakable spirit and generosity are awe-inspiring, and they drew me in.

"I've made some deep and meaningful relationships during my visits to Ukraine and that only motivates me even more to want to return."

Ukraine need still high

Tenby Powell, former Tauranga mayor and chairman of volunteer humanitarian aid organisation Kiwi K.A.R.E (Kiwi Aid and Refugee Evacuation), first met Campbell in Kharkiv in November 2022.

"I hadn't been made aware Harriet was in Kharkiv and was thrilled to meet her.

"She was running a kitchen and cooking for internally displaced persons. Harriet was also working in a bakery supplying military hospitals and schools with fresh bread and hot meals."

At that time Ukraine had some 14 million displaced people, he says.

"In late 2022, Kharkiv was still hit regularly and intensively by missile and drone attacks and I admired Harriett for being there and getting stuck in with a practical Kiwi can-do attitude.

"Despite media attention having been diverted almost exclusively to Gaza, the full-scale war in Ukraine is still raging and Harriet and her partner will be welcomed back with open arms."

Source

• NZ Herald

It's extremely serious says the Palestinian city's only Catholic priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli (pictured).

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) reports agree.

"Our people are constantly suffering. Every time both sides talk about a truce, the intensity of military operations increases" reports an ACN partner (who has aked for anonymity).

Refuge under fire

For the past fortnight Gaza's Holy Family parish has suffered intense military clashes and shelling.

The displaced Christian community has been living within the parish compound since the conflict began.

The 512-strong mainly Catholic and Orthodox group has "been living a Calvary without respite for months" Romanelli says.

"The other day my vicar, who is inside Gaza, told me "You can't imagine the pain we are feeling and the desperation of the people".

Yet they "still have faith and hope in the essential - in Jesus Christ".

Praying and caring for one another are two constants in the besieged Christian community.

There's daily Mass, catechesis sessions and the rosary. There are activities for children and meetings for trauma healing through prayer.

Basics lacking

Clean water and food are at a premium, ACN's partner says.

Dirty water is used for toilets and sanitary units, and water is being purified using traditional methods.

Food is "very, very limited" and the problem has nothing to do with the availability of cash.

"It is simply that food is scarce, and it is difficult to find anywhere to buy it."

Internationally-provided humanitarian aid didn't arrive in the parish.

"However, some faithful managed to find flour and the bakery started producing bread again ... a great blessing for our displaced people" Romanelli says.

Many charities are trying to help.

The Latin Patriarchate is able to provide everyone with two meals a week and a loaf of bread every two days.

On other days, Gaza's Christian community has to eke out their supplies or forage for themselves.

People walk for long hours to get a small box of food, which in the end is not enough for three people.

"Sharing is part of daily life and their new Christian identity" ACN's project partner says.

Disease

Poor sanitation is another concern.

Children have a virus causing nausea and diarrhoea. Four elderly people are seriously ill and need hospitalisation - an impossibility at present.

The war has created an "objectively intolerable situation" says Jerusalem's Latin Patriarch.

"We have always had many problems of all kinds, even the economic-financial situation has always been very fragile, but the famine has never been there.

"Everyone - religious, political and social communities - they must do everything possible to break this situation."

Easter

Faith is something that encourages Gaza's Christian community, says ACN's project partner.

"With God's grace, our children are now even closer to their faith than ever before. It is a very special Easter, we are closer than ever to the crucified Saviour.

"Pray for us, pray for the whole population, that this war might end."

Source

• ACN International
• Crux

Ivan Smyglia and Denys Kurpikov say Sister Lucia Murashko presented them with "no other option".

Murashko (pictured with the taxi drivers) is a member of the Sisters of the Order of St Basil the Great of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. She's the driving force behind their efforts.

They go with her into the ‘grey zone' about 50 kilometres away.

The grey zone refers to the villages on the front line, between the Ukrainian and Russian Federation armies — territories that Ukraine does not control.

The Basilian sisters have been providing humanitarian aid within their parish community and to civilians and Ukrainian soldiers on the front since the war began in February last year.

Smyglia was running a successful taxi company in Ukraine and Poland when war broke out.

"When the war started, my team and I had no other option. I had a feeling deep inside that we needed to help.

"And together with friends, we took our cars and some savings that we had — called some people, some people prepared food — and we started to deliver aid to our military."

Many people had been without water or electricity for several months, he said.

He and Kuprikov have been delivering humanitarian aid to the front line full time ever since.

Smyglia said his initiative began very simply. "I just wrote a message on my apartment building's chat app: ‘Please bring whatever you can.'"

At first, people brought large shopping bags filled with goods.That dwindled after a couple of months.

"Then, just when we thought that we couldn't do any more ... we met Sister Lucia.

"And we came to an agreement that she would help us," Kuprikov says.

Last July, the sisters began providing Smyglia and Kuprikov with supplies like food, clothing, mats, sleeping bags and electric generators.

Whenever the taxi drivers spoke of needs they encountered, the sisters told them "Send us a list and we will take care of it."

Kuprikov recalled once driving into the "grey zone" under mortar fire with Murashko.

"Sister Lucia took my hand and said, ‘Everything is OK. God is with us.' These were not words I paid much attention to before.

"But now, when ...there are some difficult circumstances, I recall Sister Lucia's words and I feel better."

Smyglia said it was impossible for him to calculate the amount of aid they had delivered to soldiers and civilians.

He says his experience has started a "new page" in his life.

"I had really no clue about the Church, the faith, and my opinion about all of that.

"I didn't understand it. There was no one to teach me when I was little."

He now wants to propose to his wife of 21 years that they marry in the Church.

The family man says his marriage will be stronger.

"I love my wife and my children very much — they are my soul and my heart — I cannot imagine my life without them, but we should be wed in the eyes of God."

Source

• OSV News

Krajewski, was sent by Pope Francis to Ukraine to show the pope's "closeness" to the Ukrainian people.

"It would be good if you could go again to Ukraine, to the war zones, to visit and bring aid to those communities that are still there after almost 200 days of war," Francis told him during the recent meeting of cardinals in Rome.

Krajewski told the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, that he had gone into war zones where only soldiers entered.

Describing the task as bringing aid to people trapped in no-man's-land, Krajewski told Vatican News "No one besides soldiers enters anymore.

"While we managed to give the first portion of humanitarian help peacefully, during the second one they started to fire on us," said Krajewski.

"For the first time in my life, I didn't know where to run. Because it is not enough to run, you have to know where to go," said the Polish-born cardinal.

Krajewski was grateful to a Ukrainian soldier who guided the group to shelter and warned that they had 10 minutes before the second round of attacks would start.

"They say there are a lot of traitors in that terrain," Krajewski told Crux, referring to people who collaborate with Russian forces.

"When they spot humanitarian help being distributed, they give a location through their mobile phone and the gunfire starts."

Krajewski said that after taking shelter, everyone was well, adding "We managed to distribute papal rosaries to the soldiers.

"Almost all of the Ukrainian soldiers, no matter what their faith was, put the rosary on their necks immediately."

On Sunday Krajewski and his team went to visit the site of mass graves left behind by Russian occupiers, declaring "the entire world now knows they're real".

So far, officials of Ukraine's Defence Ministry say that at least 440 unmarked graves have been discovered in the wake of a Russian withdrawal from the eastern city of Izyum, despite repeated denials from Russian officials that their forces have targeted civilians or committed war crimes.

In the past, Moscow has suggested that purported images of civilian casualties or mass graves in conflict zones amount to Ukrainian propaganda.

Krajewski removed any doubt saying the mass graves were located in pine tree forests, and some victims displayed signs of torture, with their hands tied behind their backs.

Sources

• AP News
• Vatican News
• America Magazine
• Crux

Camilla and her husband Prince Charles heard how the Russian invasion had ripped apart the Ukranian refugees' families and lives at home.

A spokesman said yesterday: "No one could fail to be moved by the appalling scenes of Ukrainians fleeing their homes and the duchess wanted to help in whatever way she could."

Camilla embraced Inna Prystaiko, the wife of the Ukraine ambassador, telling her that she was "praying" for her and her countrymen.

The royals were accompanied by representatives of humanitarian charities of which Charles is a patron and a supporter.

Leaving the Cathedral, the Prince of Wales accepted a "Stop Putin" sign from a small child and was moved to pay tribute to the "extraordinary bravery, generosity and fortitude of the Ukrainian community," making an impromptu speech to the crowd gathered.

In the course of the speech, Charles said his "thoughts and prayers, however inadequate they may be, are with all of you at this most critical time."

One of Charles' reasons for visiting the cathedral was to find out how he could assist in the emerging Ukrainian humanitarian crisis.

Among those he met at the Cathedral were Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family, Vadym Prystaiko, the Ukrainian Ambassador to the U.K. and Ukrainian relief workers and children

Nowakowski says the visit represented a "very important day" for the Ukrainian community.

"They had an opportunity to be in the cathedral to light candles and say a prayer ... they were able to meet Ukrainian volunteers who have been working very hard since the beginning of the war eight years ago, but especially in these last few days — organizing humanitarian packages, organizing rallies and being with other people.

"What I think was most meaningful for me was the Prince also encouraged a few of the humanitarian organisations that he is patron of to join us as well."

"The fact that they spent so much time reassuring and expressing their solidarity with us, it was a very important day for us."

Source

• Catholic News Service
• MarieClaire
• Image: Daily Express

Among those providing support is the Catholic charity Caritas Australia, who is working directly with Caritas Ukraine and its local partner Caritas Spes.

Funds to support the charity's work in Ukraine have started to arrive.

So far the Australian Government has provided an initial $35 million commitment - support Caritas is welcoming with gratitude.

"This humanitarian aid is desperately needed in Ukraine right now," said Kirsty Robertson, Caritas Australia's CEO.

"Over half a million people have already been forced to flee their homes."

Robertson says refugee numbers could "balloon into three or even five million in the coming weeks as more villages, towns and cities are victims of air raids and attacks."

Caritas Spes and Caritas Australia, together, offer support to Ukrainian families who have fled their homes, providing emergency supplies including food, hygiene kits, clean water and psychological help. Emergency shelter is provided to displaced families.

Among those helping relieve suffering is the executive director of Caritas-Spes, Catholic priest Father Vyacheslav Grynevych.

He is coordinating humanitarian efforts from a basement bomb shelter, where he has taken in 36 people, mostly children and their pets.

Despite the conditions in Ukraine, Grynevych says Caritas-Spes is continuing to prepare projects and coordinate activities.

In an online press conference via Zoom last Tuesday, Grynevych said:

"As a priest, I have my reflection about the situation … because, you know, war makes both adults and children cry … We learned it when hiding in basements during the airstrikes.

"Aside from material losses that can be revealed over time, the pain and fear that people will experience will take very long to recover."

Grynevych says Caritas-Spes is also supporting people who have gathered at Ukraine's western border, providing temporary housing in shelters.

The charity has the capacity to help shelter 400 children and as of last Tuesday had already accepted half that number.

"We are equipped with shelters in five cities, one of which is in a children's hospital for pregnant women, women who just delivered, and children," he said during the Zoom meeting.

"This humanitarian need will likely increase over the coming weeks and months," Caritas Australia's Robertson says.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Caritas Australia (supplied)
• Image: Catholic News Agency

On 2 September, the social agency launched an appeal for housing, furniture and household packs.

"Every action, small or large, will greatly benefit the individuals and families fleeing a desperate situation and seeking safety in New Zealand," Prendergast said.

"Whether through parish newsletters, community or Facebook groups, CSS has received and continues to receive amazingly generous offers from people wanting to help," he said.

Prendergast told CathNews the archdiocese's assistance can be seen as a humanitarian response.

"People are responding to people in need," and it is 'all systems go', as the region prepares to welcome these refugees.

Despite the early success, CSS remains keen to find rental housing for the Wellington-bound families over the next few weeks.

"Stable housing is crucially important to help these people to adjust and settle well into their lives ahead", the agency said.

CSS is targeting one-to four-bedroom houses, flats or units that can be rented for at least six months - ideally longer."

"The number of people who may come to Wellington is yet to be confirmed but a call for housing was made in anticipation of a housing need," Prendergast says.

"We are also seeking basic furniture and household packs for the families, including bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, and pantry items such as rice, cooking oils, canned black/kidney beans, tea and coffee etc.

"Together we can help these people to settle well in the Wellington region.'

Several organisations are arranging help for people to settle in, Prendergast notes.

"Wellington Red Cross will be providing Red Cross volunteers dedicated to all individuals and families who arrive to support them on a daily basis."

In addition, Prendergast says the Afghan community is "very much involved" in helping welcome their compatriots from Afghanistan as are several local communities and government organisations in Wellington.

Between them, Prendergast says they're co-ordinating responses and support.

"As clarity is gained on numbers coming and when, the co-ordination of housing and setting up those houses will be ready to start."

Source

• Scoop
• Supplied
• Image: Stuff

Kaveinga Ora will begin replacing the island's 27 medical centres this week as it starts service for the island's 13,000 people.

The project is the result of two years' work by Rotary clubs in New Zealand, Rarotonga and worldwide as well as the Health Ministry.

The retired diplomat, Nick Hurley, had been in Rarotonga for the service's launch that his wife Christine helped instigate.

He said the health clinic was designed for the island's conditions:"They used a number of specialists for things like making it able to be used in times of natural disasters.

"So it could operate three days without any external power with air-conditioning, or five days without.

"It could still operate with refrigerated space in there for people who might be needing urgent attention."

The ministry's health promotion manager, Karen Tairea, has been involved in developing the scope of the project.

She said that, when needed, they consulted other health staff who had knowledge and experience about any particular topic they were discussing.

"With the clinical side, we had the public health nurses because they would be the main users of the bus so they were able to say what equipment they needed."

She said hospital health services contributed, as the bus would also be used for health drives including blood donations and cervical cancer screening.

Source

• msn.com
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: facebook

The Society has forwarded $10,000 to Tonga and $3,000 to Samoa from its disaster relief fund.

Tonga's needs are around health, hygiene and basic food needs; in Samoa the focus is on the repair of family homes.

"We have been in contact with our National Presidents in Tonga and Samoa," says the Society's Twinning Officer, Arthur Schultze. "They have kept us up to date with the areas where assistance is most needed."

In Tonga, health and hygiene are the priority area for the Society. Funds are going towards items such as disinfectant, toilet paper, napkins, mosquito nets in response to an outbreak of dengue fever, water and basic food items.

In Samoa, agricultural supplies - tools and seeds - and the replacement of roofs on family homes are the initial focus of support.

"Prior to Cyclone Gita, two shipments of clothing and other basics were sent to Tonga and a further shipment was dispatched last week which included clothing, bedding and canned food," said Arthur Schultze.

The Society in New Zealand has launched an appeal for funds through its Councils and Conferences to provide Tonga and Samoa with ongoing support.

The Vinnies are also having a 'gold coin' collection at many Catholic schools and food donations are being collected in Auckland schools.

The Society's National Council of Australia has offered A$10,000 to assist with aid in Tonga.

If you would like to contribute funds to the SSVdP Appeal, please contact admin@svdp.org.nz or phone 04 499 5075

Source

• Supplied: St Vincent de Paul Society

Fatemah, a 55-year old refugee woman, has been told there's an imminent risk of her sudden death because of her heart condition.

The medical treatment that Fatemah needs is not available on Nauru.

Australia approved her transfer but will not let her 16-year-old son accompany her.

Fatemah's son has experienced suicidal ideation and has never been apart from her.

Two years ago she was transferred to Darwin for treatment but was sent back to Nauru without any explanation or treatment.

A year and a half ago, Fatemah was transferred to Port Moresby but still did not access the treatment she needs.

Fatemah was asked if she had a message for Ardern.

"Me and the other refugees who are here stretch their hands towards you," she said.

"We want New Zealand to help us because we really need your help. Please do something before it's too late for us."

General practitioner Nick Martin was contracted by the Australian government through the company International Health and Medical Services to look after Fatemah and about 1000 other refugees on Nauru.

Fatemah refused to follow his advice to leave Nauru for treatment, Martin said.

"She was adamant, and I can't really blame her, that she would not leave her son behind."

He's pretty much all she's got in this world right now, and she was so distressed at the idea of leaving him that she said 'no I can't'," he said.

"It's a real kind of Sophie's Choice for that mum. I think it's a pretty inhumane thing to do to any mum to force her to leave her child.

"She couldn't guarantee his safety when he'd be left on his own. Certainly Nauru is not the kind of place you'd want to leave an unaccompanied teenager who is pretty vulnerable."

Source

• RNZ
• asrc.org.au
• Image: FaceBook

Their promise follows an investigation into international aid organisation Oxfam

The Times newspaper found Oxfam UK workers demanded sex for money following a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

The newspaper also accused Oxfam officials of financial mismanagement, harassment, bullying and negligent supervision.

"We are aware of The Times' investigation of Oxfam UK members and their conduct in the Haiti earthquake response," Catholic Relief Services Communications Director, Kim Pozniak, says.

"First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of these atrocious acts.

"We unequivocally condemn any act that violates the rights and human dignity of individuals."

Following The Times revelations, Catholic Agency For Overseas Development (CAFOD) dismissed a former Oxfam worker who joined CAFOD after working with Oxfam in Haiti.

Oxfam confirmed the employee was accused of sexual misconduct.

CAFOD Director Chris Bain said: "We were not aware of allegations made against this employee and received two references, as standard practice, at the time of recruitment."

David Adams, the Vice President of Missions for Cross Catholic Outreach, lived and worked in Haiti for years as Mission Director for the US Agency for International Development.

He says the majority of humanitarian aid workers in Haiti did not abuse their power in such an appalling way.

"Cross Catholic Outreach was deeply involved in the humanitarian response to the 2010 earthquake and observed that the great majority of humanitarian workers including our own staff responded to the needs of the vulnerable with nothing but love and compassion," he said.

"We deliberately select staff with work experience in Haiti who understand the cultural context and underlying causes of poverty rather than aid workers who accept short-term positions moving from one country or disaster situation after another."

Other Catholic aid organisations who work in Haiti also say that they have protocols for aid workers and partners in international development.

These protocols are intended to ensure the protection of the vulnerable people they serve.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) say their protocol includes a whistleblower system and a protection training course.

All CRS employees and partners must complete the course.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Crux
• Image: Catholic News Agency

Planning is underway for relief assistance in the future should the developing El Niño be as severe as climatologists are predicting.

Crop gardens have already been destroyed by frost and rivers and creeks have either dried up or are drying up fast, as the severe weather pattern intensifies in the Highlands.

Caritas Papua New Guinea has been working in partnership with Caritas Australia and Caritas New Zealand to aid the affected communities.

Bags of rice and sweet potatoes collected from Catholic parishes in the Highlands have been distributed to these communities.

In an interview last month, the General Secretary for the Catholic Bishops Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, Fr Victor Roche, promised that K20,000 would be given as assistance aid for the victims of frost in the Highlands.

"An El Niño has the potential to trigger a regional humanitarian emergency," says Sune Gudnitz, head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Regional Office for the Pacific.

"We estimate as many as 4.1 million people are at risk from water shortages, food insecurity and disease across the Pacific."

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Fiji, Osnat Lubrani says climatologists are now unanimous in predicting that we are heading for a strong to severe El Niño event in the coming months.

"Some modelling is now suggesting this El Niño could be as severe as the event in 1997/98 which is the worst on record and brought severe drought to PNG and Fiji."

The Catholic dioceses of Mt Hagen, Wabag, Mendi and Kundiawa met recently in the provincial capital of the Western Highlands Province to discuss and establish short and long term plans to guide relief assistance efforts.

Source

• emtv.com.pg
• http:preventionweb.net
• Image: www.dailybulletin.com.au

Mitchell is a humanitarian programme coordinator for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand.

He has just returned from Vanuatu.

He arrived there just three days after Cyclone Pam hit.

Now, though dates had not yet been confirmed, he will soon be heading to another disaster zone - Nepal.

He expects to head over in a couple of months.

He was not going immediately because "we don't want to be sending people if it is not people that are needed."

"What is needed is money and support."

Caritas already has staff on the ground trying to get the country back on its feet.

For more than ten years Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has worked with its counterpart in Nepal to support farmers, developing strong small farming and agribusiness cooperatives.

They are now using these long established relationships to reach some of the most marginalised communities in the country.

Caritas in Nepal is a well-respected partner of the Nepalese Government for humanitarian relief work and is negotiating to continue directly implementing its response to the earthquake.

"Our Caritas network is supporting the Caritas Nepal team as they prioritise emergency shelter, trauma counselling, food, clean water and the hygiene materials people desperately need," says Mitchell.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Caritas responded rapidly to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that happened on Saturday.

It was centered 10 miles below the surface, less than 50 miles from the capital of Kathmandu.

Assessments are coming in and Caritas teams in-country are organising the response.

Straight after the earthquake the airport was closed, so Caritas members made plans to send aid overland from India.

"Rescue is the first priority. Lots of people have lost their homes and are out on the street or in open spaces, so we will be looking to provide them with food and temporary shelter," said Caritas Nepal director, Fr. Pius Perumana S.J. in Kathmandu.

He said that there has been lots of physical damage, electricity has been down, making communications difficult and roads are blocked.

"Lots of houses have fallen down and there are lots with cracks. Thank God it was during the day and on a holiday, as many people were outside when the quake happened."

"Caritas has a very strong disaster response team who have been responding to other emergencies like the landslides that affected communities in Nepal in August 2014," says Anna Robertson, Programmes Coordinator for Nepal.

More than 3000 are already reported to have been killed by the quake and subsequent avalanches triggered in the Himalayas.

The death toll is expected to rise.

Donations to assist with the humanitarian response can be made by:

• Donating online using a credit card at www.caritas.org.nz
• Internet banking - account #03 0518 0211216 00
• Phoning 0800 22 10 22 to make credit card donations

Source

• Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand
• The Atlantic
• Image: Time.com

On Palm Sunday The Methodist church in Fiji collected a special donation to go towards their relief efforts for the people of Vanuatu, Tuvalu and Kiribati who are recovering from the onslaught of category five Tropical Cyclone Pam.

Palm Sunday in Fiji is also Children's Sunday.

In Methodist churches children usually dress in white and lead the worship. They are also give a good meal and gifts

According to UNICEF it is estimated that at least half the population of Vanuatu has been affected by cyclone Pam.

Of these, at least 54,000 are children.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• UNICEF
• Image:Facebook

Gaza has experienced an upsurge in violence and an increasing number of civilian casualties in recent weeks.

Seven members of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) have launched or are about to launch appeals to raise funds that will help their partner organisations in Gaza.

They are Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, Christian World Service (CWS), Oxfam New Zealand, Save the Children New Zealand, UNICEF New Zealand and World Vision New Zealand.

TEAR Fund also launched an appeal on July 30.

These organisations are working with their partner organisations to provide food and aid for displaced families, medical treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, cash grants, protection, education and psychosocial counselling for children.

New Zealander Alex Snary, national director of World Vision's work in Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza, recently visited children in Gaza during a brief cease-fire.

"Even after the immediate needs of food and shelter are met, the psychological suffering of the children and grieving for those who were killed will continue for months to come", he said.

Trish Murray from CWS was in Gaza in May.

She said children who were still suffering from the 2012 attacks are now being re-traumatised.

"Vital infrastructure has been destroyed. The people need food, water, medical treatment and shelter," she said.

"But more than anything they need the military offensive to end and real steps towards building a just peace."

The organisations going to appeal are all members of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum, a network of New Zealand charities that respond to disasters and humanitarian crises internationally.

You can find more information about what each of these organisations are doing by going to the NDRF website or directly to the agencies concerned.

For more information on the crisis, or to donate to an appeal, visit the NDRF website: www.ndrf.org.nz

Source:

• scoop.co.nz
• Image: ABN News

Caritas Jerusalem is providing medical assistance, food and other necessities to the thousands of vulnerable people affected by the escalating conflict.

More than 775 people have been killed during Israeli attacks, with more than 100,000 Palestinians displaced.

The pledge of $20,000 from Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is possible because of the public's generosity through the Caritas Gifts, Gifts of Peace programme (www.caritasgifts.org.nz)

Much-needed donations are now being accepted to implement the humanitarian response as soon as possible.

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