Summer edition 2013

A quarterly update on disasters and emergencies around the world.

Includes: Syria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Bangladesh, Darfur and Colombia.

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report

SyriaThe war in Syria continues to have a devastating effect on the lives of millions of people. Within Syria, more than 6.8 million people are in need of humanitarian aid and more than a third of all homes have been damaged or destroyed. The economy, the education system and healthcare services have collapsed, and there are severe food shortages in many areas. At least 100,000 people have been killed.

The conflict is also threatening the stability of neighbouring countries. According to the United Nations, more than 1.86 million Syrians have registered as refugees or are awaiting registration. However, with many families unwilling or unable to register officially, the true figure may be far higher.

The Lebanese government estimates that there are one million refugees in Lebanon alone. Many are living in desperate conditions – in makeshift camps, in derelict or half-built buildings, in cowsheds, or in the open air. If the exodus from Syria continues at the current rate, one in three people in Lebanon will be a refugee by the end of the year.

The conflict has caused sectarian tension in Lebanon: groups supporting opposing sides in the Syrian conflict have clashed in the port cities of Tripoli and Sidon. The war has also put huge pressure on the Lebanese economy and on basic services. School classes in Lebanon have doubled in size, and the health system is under severe strain. According to a recent poll by the Norwegian research foundation FAFO, more than 90 per cent of Lebanese people think the refugees have damaged businesses, while two-thirds of the population believes that the crisis will lead to a new civil war in Lebanon.

CAFOD continues to argue that the only lasting solution to the crisis will be through diplomacy and dialogue. The supply of arms and related material to any side will fuel the conflict and could prolong the fighting and lead to further suffering.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian crisis, the long-term repercussions of the conflict will be immense. Even if the war finished tomorrow, reconciliation and recovery would be extremely challenging. It is estimated that the economic cost of the crisis is more than US$48 billion, and reconstruction would require a coordinated international effort, along the lines of the post-World War II Marshall Plan. Early and appropriate planning for this is essential.

CAFOD is working with local Church partners within Syria, as well as in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, to provide food, shelter, medical supplies, clothes and blankets to those most in need, regardless of their religious or political ties.

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/syria

“It is not easy for me to ask

for help. In Syria I never

had to ask anyone for

assistance. But receiving

support from CAFOD’s

partner Caritas Lebanon

is better than getting one

million Lebanese pounds.

I am so happy that they

stand side by side with us.

Every day that passes feels

like a victory.”

Siraj Daker, a Syrian refugee in Tripoli, Lebanon

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CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

Torrential monsoon rain in early August caused floods that have killed at least 80 people and destroyed thousands of homes, roads and bridges. With more heavy rain expected, this year’s floods could have a severe impact across the country.

Pakistan has been struck by devastating floods for the last three years. The 2010 floods were the worst in recent history, affecting more than 20 million people. As a result, approximately one-fifth of the country – an area larger than England – was left underwater. The 2011 and 2012 floods were less widespread, but nevertheless caused damage across vast areas.

This year’s floods have washed away homes, inundated farmland, destroyed water systems and left tens of thousands of people in need of shelter. Deaths have come from multiple causes: people being swept away by floodwater; buildings collapsing; and electrocution. Many of the worst affected villages were also hit by the previous years’ floods.

Aude Archambault, CAFOD’s Emergency Programme Manager for Pakistan, said: “It’s extremely difficult to keep rebuilding your life when your home and your crops are hit by floods year after year. People who used to consider themselves wealthy have lost their crops, their livestock and their means of making a living. Many families have sold everything they have to survive, or gone into severe debt.

“This year, some families are determined not to travel far from their homes, despite the risks. We have heard reports of people taking refuge on high ground near their homes, waiting for the flood waters to recede, with no shelter, no food, and only contaminated water to drink.

“Our priority at the moment is to ensure that people have safe places to stay, food, essential household goods and a clean water supply. Our longer term projects in response to the disaster in 2010 are helping people to find new ways of making a living, and to be better prepared for future disasters.”

The floods in early August were the result of heavy rain, and flood-water coming down from the mountains. If the Indus River overflows, as happened in 2010, the situation could get much worse.

CAFOD’s emergency team is working with Catholic Relief Services to respond to the flooding in Baluchistan and Sindh Provinces.

Our Pakistan Floods appeal in 2010 raised almost £3 million, which provided aid to more than 365,000 people. We also responded to the floods in 2011 and 2012.

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/pakistan

Pakistan

“It’s extremely difficult to

keep rebuilding your life,

when your home and your

crops are hit by floods

year after year.”

Aude Archambault, CAFOD Emergency Progamme Manager for Pakistan

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CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

South Sudan Recent clashes in the troubled South Sudanese state of Jonglei have forced an estimated 180,000 people to flee their homes. With some towns almost completely abandoned, many families are thought to be taking refuge in forests and scrubland, surviving off wild leaves and fruit. Others have fled to Juba, the South Sudanese capital, or crossed into Ethiopia, Kenya or Uganda as refugees.

The crisis has been sparked by conflict between rival tribes and between the South Sudanese army and the David Yau Yau rebel group, which the South Sudanese government alleges is supported by Sudan. There have been reports of civilians being beaten and killed during the fighting, and of villages being looted.

As the rainy season begins, roads are becoming impassable, which will make it extremely difficult for aid agencies to provide food, clean water or healthcare in remote areas. The rains could also increase the spread of malaria and water-borne diseases.

In coordination with Caritas International – the coalition of Catholic aid agencies around the world – CAFOD has been working in Sudan and South Sudan for many years to support people whose lives have been torn apart by war. CAFOD is leading Caritas’s work with refugees in Upper Nile state, while our sister agency Catholic Relief Services is on the ground in Jonglei.

CAFOD’s team in Upper Nile state is responding to last year’s refugee crisis, which saw 115,000 people flee from Sudan to escape fighting. Working with the local Church, we are helping thousands of refugees to set up home gardens or start small businesses, enabling them to support themselves rather than rely on handouts.

With the rainy season underway, we are also distributing hygiene kits, building latrines and promoting good health practices to prevent a repeat of the severe outbreaks of disease in refugee camps in Upper Nile last year.

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/southsudan

“We left because of the

bombing, and walked

day and night for twenty

days to reach the camps.

CAFOD has trained me

to become a barber and

provided me with a mirror,

chair and razor blades. The

money I earn helps me

buy food for my children.”

Adam Shuk, Yusuf Batil refugee camp, Upper Nile state

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

Hidden emergencies

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Central African RepublicLargely forgotten by the world, the people of the Central African Republic are facing a truly devastating humanitarian crisis. More than 250,000 people have been forced from their homes by fighting, basic services like health and education have collapsed, and at least two million people are facing severe food shortages.

The crisis follows a military coup in March. After several months of fighting, a coalition of rebel groups known as Séléka seized Bangui, the capital city, and forced the president to flee the country.

Today, the security situation remains volatile, and there have been reports of atrocities throughout the country. According to the United Nations, 4.6 million people – the country’s entire population – are at risk from the ongoing violence.

Archbishop Dieudonné Nzapalainga of Bangui recently described the situation as “catastrophic”.

“The needs in my country are great,” he said. “People are ill and don’t have medicines. They don’t have food. Every evening for the past week, there has been a ‘concert of saucepans’ in Bangui. People are out on the streets banging their pots because they are so hungry.”

CAFOD is supporting Caritas Central African Republic in providing food, healthcare and shelter, as well as protecting vulnerable children and promoting peace and reconciliation.

Because of the ongoing violence, Caritas staff and volunteers face great danger in carrying out their work. Father Elysée Guedjande, the Director of Caritas Central African Republic, was recently shot in the leg, after two unidentified men attempted to steal his car.

Nyika Musiyazwiriyo, CAFOD’s Head of Humanitarian Programmes for Africa, said: “We are deeply concerned by all attacks on aid workers, who are providing life-saving support to the poorest and most vulnerable. It is vital that aid workers are allowed to do their work, and all parties should ensure their security.

“Father Guedjande and other local Church workers have stayed with the people and are risking their lives to spread hope. They are doing amazing work in extremely difficult circumstances. Our prayers are with them all.”

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/centralafricanrepublic

“The fighting is over but I’m

still scared. When you go

to the main road, you see

men with guns.”

Josephine, 8, Bangui

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

5

Hidden emergencies

Crisis update

BangladeshTropical Storm Mahasen hit Bangladesh on 16 May, killing at least 14 people and damaging tens of thousands of homes. Before reaching the coast, it was almost the same strength as Cyclone Aila, which left a million people homeless in 2009. However, it weakened as it advanced over the coast, and flooding was less widespread than expected because the storm surge coincided with low tide.

Two decades ago, even a relatively mild storm like Mahasen could have been devastating in Bangladesh, but disaster preparations have improved beyond recognition.

Early action by the Bangladeshi government and aid agencies like CAFOD’s sister agency Caritas Bangladesh helped to limit Mahasen’s impact. Caritas Bangladesh opened 242 cyclone centres, put 5,000 trained volunteers on standby, and made sure that stocks of food and household supplies were available. In total, around a million people were safely evacuated from coastal areas.

Disaster risk reduction is at the heart of CAFOD’s work in Bangladesh. Our partners have helped villages to strengthen their early warning systems, to build properly equipped cyclone shelters, and to create community disaster savings schemes. We have supported people in raising their houses off the ground, and in using new agricultural techniques that mean their crops are less likely to be washed away. Crucially, we have also ensured that those likely to be worst hit by floods and cyclones – women, children and disabled people – have a say in how local government prepares for disasters.

While there has been much progress, the country’s low-lying geography and high levels of poverty mean that it remains extremely vulnerable to cyclones (from May to November) as well as monsoon floods (June to September).

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/bangladesh

“I am now a leader in the

community, giving advice

to everyone, but especially

women, on how to protect

themselves and their land.

We can’t stop natural

disasters, but we can try to

keep the damage low.”

Sabita Biswas, Kainmari

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

6

Ten years on, the crisis in Darfur has been largely forgotten by the world’s media – but millions of people are still in need of humanitarian aid.

In 2003, conflict between a range of rebel movements, government-backed militias and the Sudanese armed forces grew into a major humanitarian emergency in the Darfur region of Sudan. There was widespread killing and the destruction of crops, herds and homes.

Since the fighting began, more than two million people have been driven from their homes, and it is estimated that at least 300,000 have died as a result of the conflict. Today, the continued volatility of the region means that most of those living in camps are unable to return to their land or rebuild their villages.

Ten years on, an estimated 3.4 million people still depend on humanitarian aid, including 1.7 million people still living in camps.

2013 has seen an increase in people fleeing from their homes, with reports of 300,000 newly displaced people in the first six months of the year. This is more than in the previous two years combined – a worrying reminder that conclusive peace remains elusive.

CAFOD has been supporting projects in Darfur since 2004 as part of a major emergency programme organised by the two main international church-based networks, Caritas Internationalis and Action by Churches Together Alliance. The programme is a lifeline for half a million people. It provides:

• clean water and sanitation, through boreholes and solar powered water systems

• health clinics and health training

• treatment for malnutrition

• schools

• seeds, tools and training

• support for people in making a living, so that families can be self-sufficient

• peace-building initiatives between communities.

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/sudan

Darfur

“When we first came here,

we were getting water

from the valley, seven

kilometres away. Now

all the water systems are

solar-powered. Water is

right where we live now.

It’s helped us a lot.”

Muhammad, Darfur. Muhammad has been living in a camp for almost a decade.

Crisis update

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

7

In focus

ColombiaAfter nearly 50 years of conflict, peace negotiations between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) are giving people hope for the future.

In the 1960s, the FARC was formed, followed by other guerrilla and paramilitary groups. Fighting between the state and these groups has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and forced more than five million from their homes. Today, there are more internally displaced people in Colombia than in any other country. In 2012 alone, approximately 230,000 people were forced to flee their homes.

In October 2012, the government began peace negotiations with the FARC. In June 2013, they reached major agreements on land reform, including greater provision of state services in rural areas, more support for cooperatives, the creation of a rural land register, and the return of land to those that have been displaced by armed groups. These agreements represented a significant breakthrough: land reform had been a stumbling-block in all previous negotiations.

Alongside the Catholic Church in Colombia, CAFOD welcomes the peace negotiations, while recognising that they are the start of a long-term process. The government is yet to reach an agreement with the National Liberation Army (ELN), the other major guerrilla army. New paramilitary groups referred to by the Colombian government as criminal gangs (bandas criminales, or BACRIM) also represent a threat to peace, as does the ongoing drug trade from the country.

The Colombian Church is calling for the greater involvement of grassroots organisations in the negotiations, and in particular for fairer representation for women. It will be a huge challenge to achieve reconciliation and justice for the millions of victims over the coming years, and it is crucial that ordinary people are at the heart of the peace process. It is also vital that those working to defend the rights of the victims are protected. Worryingly, 69 human rights defenders and community leaders were killed in 2012. The number has more than doubled in two years.

For many years, CAFOD has supported the work of the Church, which plays a crucial role in promoting peace and human rights, and in standing alongside communities in remote areas. Last year, the Church and other organisations successfully lobbied the government to pass a law to compensate victims of the conflict, including those who are unable to return to their land.

Find out more at cafod.org.uk/colombia

CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

CAFOD supports the work of César López, a peace activist who uses music to teach young people alternatives to violent conflict. He uses an AK-47 rifle that he has transformed into a guitar to play songs of peace, and runs workshops with young people as part of the CAFOD-funded CLICK project developed by our partner CINEP.

He says: “After so many years of pain, Colombia can now share positive examples of peace-building. It is a country that is learning to understand and accept the differences within its society.

“There are many theories for peace: redistribute land and improve education and health, but none of these speak of emotion – the fear, the guilt, the anger. Music is a fundamental tool to reach the emotions. We need to learn to deactivate the inner weapon inside us.”

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CAFOD Crisis Watch Report: Summer Edition

A View from the field

When people ask me how Lebanon is coping with the influx of refugees from Syria, I say – we’re not. Lebanon has a population of just over four million, and we are now

hosting more than one million Syrians. With the history of conflict in this country, it is our natural instinct to welcome refugees, but we are being overwhelmed.

Despite the tensions, grassroots organisations like Caritas Lebanon are doing everything we can to support the refugees. With help from CAFOD, Caritas Lebanon is supporting more than 100,000 people, providing food, healthcare, clothes, mattresses, blankets, shelter and psychological support.

Many of the refugees are living in dire conditions. Some have fled with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and they can’t afford to pay for accommodation or basic services. Our staff and volunteers have found children sleeping on the streets, and heard stories about parents selling their daughters for marriage because they are so desperate for money.

A woman recently brought her seriously ill baby to one of our medical centres because she couldn’t afford US$200 to pay the fees for treatment at the local hospital. We rushed them both back to the hospital, but the baby died along the way. It’s shocking to think that children are dying for the sake of US$200.

Today, a whole generation of Syrians is being traumatised by the war. We have met countless children who have watched their parents being killed or seen their homes destroyed. I am proud of the fact that we don’t just give these children what they need to survive, but also help them begin the process of coming to terms with what they’ve experienced. We offer them therapy, and we encourage them to draw pictures or play with toys in order to explore what they’re feeling.

In the 1980s, my home in West Beirut was bombed, so I understand the pain that the refugees are experiencing. You don’t expect to lose everything, you’re not prepared for it, and suddenly you are left with nothing.

After my home was destroyed, a local priest suggested that I should become a social worker. It was a suggestion that changed my life. It helped me to realise that it wasn’t just me who was suffering – it was people from every community. I forgot my own pain. I was able to have a new life and start again.

Local knowledge is incredibly important when dealing with this kind of crisis. Grassroots organisations understand the culture, speak the language and have existing structures in place. Yet all too often they are marginalised. International aid agencies arrive and set up their own structures. They pay huge amounts to move expats here, and, even worse, they poach staff from local organisations, often offering triple the salary. We at Caritas Lebanon are lucky because we receive funding from CAFOD and other Catholic agencies around the world, who understand that the best and most cost-effective way of providing support is to do so through local agencies like ours.

But we are the exception: all too often local organisations simply aren’t being given the resources they so desperately need. The UK government recently announced £50 million in aid to support both Syrian refuges in Lebanon and Lebanese people who are affected by the crisis. I greatly welcome this new funding, but it’s crucial that it is targeted towards the local organisations that are on the frontline of this emergency.

Najla Chahda is Director of the Caritas Lebanon Migrant Centre

CAFOD’s new report, ‘Funding at the sharp end’, argues

that governments and international donors need to do

far more to support grassroots organisations in poor

countries: cafod.org.uk/fundingatthesharpend

On the frontline in Lebanon Najla Chahda

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“Sometimes we eat one meal a day, sometimes not at all. Today we eat, tomorrow we have nothing. This garden will change our lives.”Mary Dona, Upper Nile state, South Sudan.

cafod.org.uk/emergenciesCAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales.Across the world we bring hope and compassion to poor communities, standing side by side with them to end poverty and injustice.

CAFOD, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB Tel: 020 7733 7900

Photography: Eleanor Church/CAFOD, Nick Harrop/CAFOD, Ian MacNairn/Catholic Relief Services, Louise Norton/CAFOD,

Ruth Norval/CAFOD, Mohammed Noureldin/Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Pakistan

Registered Charity No. 285776

Printed on 100% recycled paper

CAFOD is supporting thousands of refugees and local villagers to set up vegetable gardens and start new businesses in South Sudan.