Horgos (Hungary border)

ACT member HEKS-EPER EHO began its activities in providing humanitarian assistance for refugees in early September through its partner EHO. In the previous period, around 3,000 refugees received humanitarian and emergency assistance in fruits, bread and water. Children and mothers with infants received chocolates and biscuits. Upon demand, EHO distributed baby food and second-hand shoes. Also, medical nurses involved in the project EHO – “Diaconia Home Care” provided First Aid on the spot. EHO also provided presence of a doctor.

By the end of the week, EHO will be present every day (10:00 to 18:00) in the camp on “no man’s land” at the border crossing Horgoš – Rözske.

The project is implemented in cooperation and with the financial support of the Swiss partner – HEKS-EPER.

Sid (Croatia border):

On Friday and Saturday, 18 and 19 September 2015, EHO has organized all-day work in the field, on the road Sid – Tovarnik. Employees and volunteers of EHO participated in the distribution of aid. After the closing of Hungarian border, refugees changed their route and went toward Croatia. To enter Croatia, the most used crossing was Sid – Tovarnik.

During two days of work in the vicinity of the border, EHO distributed 800kg apples, 400kg banana, 1,000 loaves of bread, 1200L of water, 1,000 chocolate bars, 600 packages of biscuits, 10 pairs of new shoes for mothers with young children, 400 raincoats, 30 tents, 20 sleeping bags with 20 mats.

On the 22 of September, EHO was working in Bapska, border crossing between Serbia and Croatioa and spoke to a young man Avdulah, 21.

Avdulah, 21, is refugee from Syria who is traveling with his wife, son and younger brother. They left their home town 23 days ago. At the beginning the family was on smuggling boat from Turkey to Greece. After that, they took 3 buses – from Greece to Macedonia, from Macedonia to Serbia and through Serbia. They wanted to cross the border between Serbia and Hungary, but because the fence (Hungarian Government closed the border with Serbia) they chose the route to the border with Croatia. Their final destination is Finland. Avdulah wants to provide better and peaceful future for his family, far from the war in his country.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

On Friday 13th March a category 5 Tropical Cyclone Pam lashed the islands of Vanuatu bringing with it destructive winds surpassing 300kph, heavy rainfall, storm surges and flooding. The eye of the cyclone passed close to Efate Island, where the capital Port Vila is located causing extensive and widespread damage.

Six months, ACT Alliance members continue to help the communities in Vanuatu. Click on the image below to see the gallery that we have prepared to remember the emergency relief.

To strengthen the network of volunteers in emergency preparedness and response called Redvolución Climática, on September 21st, 22nd and 23^rd, 2015, 18 young Salvadorans are receiving a workshop to address issues related to Climate Justice.

This is the first national workshop, which will be reproduced in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia.

These activities are conducted under the Program for Promotion of Ecumenical Leadership that the Lutheran World Federation is implementing in partnership with Action by Churches Together for Development – Alliance ACT, with the participation of young leaders of Churches members of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI for its acronym in Spanish) of The Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Latin America – AIPRAL and the Lutheran churches in the region.

“For the LWF it is important to promote and facilitate ecumenical meeting space and in this case prioritize participation of young people from different churches and denominations. It is important to know and get involved in issues such as climate justice, which should be a priority in our advocacy agendas, working with the community and the churches” said Elena Cedillo, Regional Representative of the Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service, Central America Program.

During these three days, young people will talk about climate change, its background, causes and effects, extreme weather events; the COP and global negotiations; Climate Change Law in El Salvador and the National Climate Change Plan; and Climate Justice focus from the churches, as well as biblical theological reflection.

During the day, young people have shown great interest and enthusiasm for work on the issue. “I am happy because this issue is a very important and it has to generate a greater impact on us, it’s important because maybe we cannot make big changes all at once, but can be gradual, we must begin ourselves in our home, in our community”, said Carmen Martinez, a 23-year-old young woman from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church.

“We have high expectations of what this group will do, because it is a new space with young people who are church leaders, who are appropriating and developing other vision of care of the Creation”, said Carlos Rauda, Regional Representative for the Alliance ACT Latin America and the Caribbean.

“I feel good because I’m here, it’s a new experience, I had never been to a meeting, it’s something new for me and very interesting, I think I’ll learn a lot about climate change, which affects us, its causes, and how can avoid it. My expectations are to learn and put into practice”, said Pablo Quintanilla, a 20-year-old representative of the Emanuel Baptist Church.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.

World leaders must remember that those who have contributed least to the climate crisis face the its severest consequences said ACT Alliance members from Asia Pacific yesterday as they highlighted the increasing vulnerability of coastal areas in Asia and the Pacific to the impacts of climate change.

Speaking at the launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday, 14 September, members of the global humanitarian and development network said that over 90 percent of the disasters impacting vulnerable communities in the region, most of which are environment and climate related, go unnoticed in the global arena.

The creation of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum brings together ACT Alliance members to advance strategic joint action in these disaster prone regions.

“Over 200 million people are affected by disasters every year in Asia and the Pacific,” said Anoop Sukumaran, ACT Alliance representative for Asia and Pacific. “The poor and vulnerable communities should be given a fair and just chance to develop their lives and livelihoods and to get all support they need to adapt to the impacts of the climate change.”

Supporting Sukumaran’s comments, Executive Director of Uniting World in Australia Rob Floyd said: “It is a matter of survival. For many people in the Pacific islands the impact of climate change questions their very existence as people.”

ACT Alliance is running a global campaign (www.actclimate.org) to scale up action for climate justice as the world leaders prepare for a UN summit in Paris in December 2015 where a global climate agreement will be reached.

“Public action is needed to put pressure on world leaders to stop catastrophic climate change,” said Sushant Agrawal, Moderator of ACT Alliance. “While we globally mobilise support for climate justice we also stand with communities to support their resilience and livelihoods as they seek to adapt to the changes around them.”

____________

Notes to editors:

1. ACT Alliance is a global coalition of more than 140 churches and faith-based organizations working together in over 140 countries to create positive and sustainable change in the lives of poor and marginalized people regardless of their religion, political beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, race or nationality while keeping with the highest international codes and standards.
2. For more information contact ACT Alliance Director, COO Pauliina Parhiala on + 41 79 963 53 33 or Estelle Marais, Head of Communications on + 41 79 358 3171

See below some photos of thee launch event of the ACT Alliance Asia/Pacific Forum in New Delhi on Monday.

During the last 20 years, the Czech Republic has been struck by extreme floods of great extent, numerous flash floods of local importance and uncommon natural disasters such as tornado in 2013.

Global climate change may contribute to more extreme weather events like these and communities need to be ready.

Dolni Berkovice, a village with 1.500 inhabitants in the Central Bohemia Region, has always been endangered by the river Elbe.

However, no one remembers the floods to be as destructive as in the last decade.

The village has been flooded three times in 11 years.

The first floods came in 2002, followed by flood in 2006 and lastly in 2013. Even though plenty of work on mitigation measures has been done and a functional and effective rescue system has been established, the protection of vulnerable inhabitants has still many gaps.

ACT member Diaconia ECCB – The Centre for Relief and Development has launched a project named “Resilient Municipality” with goal of promoting resilience of communities such as Dolni Berkovice to fill in these gaps. Since it is a community managed disaster risk reduction project, the inhabitants themselves identify the unresolved issues and they will achieve the positive change with our guidance and support.

It is not all about flood barriers, but more about accepting the responsibility of their own protection and also the safety of their neighbors.

So far, the project is being run in three communities – Dolni Berkovice, Terezin in Northern Bohemia and Sobeslav in Southern Bohemia. It is a pilot project and such activities had never been implemented in the context of the Czech Republic before.

During the last 20 years, the Czech Republic has been struck by extreme floods of great extent, numerous flash floods of local importance and uncommon natural disasters such as tornado in 2013.

Global climate change may contribute to more extreme weather events like these and communities need to be ready.

Dolni Berkovice, a village with 1.500 inhabitants in the Central Bohemia Region, has always been endangered by the river Elbe.

However, no one remembers the floods to be as destructive as in the last decade.

The village has been flooded three times in 11 years.

The first floods came in 2002, followed by flood in 2006 and lastly in 2013. Even though plenty of work on mitigation measures has been done and a functional and effective rescue system has been established, the protection of vulnerable inhabitants has still many gaps.

ACT member Diaconia ECCB – The Centre for Relief and Development has launched a project named “Resilient Municipality” with goal of promoting resilience of communities such as Dolni Berkovice to fill in these gaps. Since it is a community managed disaster risk reduction project, the inhabitants themselves identify the unresolved issues and they will achieve the positive change with our guidance and support.

It is not all about flood barriers, but more about accepting the responsibility of their own protection and also the safety of their neighbors.

So far, the project is being run in three communities – Dolni Berkovice, Terezin in Northern Bohemia and Sobeslav in Southern Bohemia. It is a pilot project and such activities had never been implemented in the context of the Czech Republic before.