Situation: Recent cross-border violence in Palestinian-controlled Gaza and Israel has worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where, following an Israel military offensive in early November, 163 Palestinians perished – 42 of them children and 22 of them women. The psychosocial and health conditions, especially those of children living in Gaza, is a major concern which needs to be addressed. CWS …
Despite Progress, Nutrition Challenges Remain in 2013
December 27, 2012
NEW YORK – A recent study funded by the Melinda and Bill Gates Foundation noted a remarkable global shift over the last few decades. Progress is being made in many areas of global health and in life expectancies overall while rates of HIV and malaria are falling. The Global Burden of Disease Study published in The Lancet also found far …
Advocacy Organizations Hopeful with Haiti Cholera Initiative
December 13, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Humanitarian agency Church World Service on Wednesday joined with American Jewish World Service (AJWS), Environmental Justice Initiative for Haiti, The Episcopal Church, Gender Action, Global Justice Clinic, Grassroots International, Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, Other Worlds, Oxfam America, TransAfrica and Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, in releasing the following statement in response to the launch of …
Updated emergency appeal: Hurricane Sandy 2012 (Caribbean)
December 12, 2012
Situation: Recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy continue in Haiti and Cuba, two countries severely hit by the late October hurricane. Dozens were killed in the Caribbean by the storm, which crippled a number of affected areas. In Cuba, for example, more than 188,000 homes were damaged and the eastern city of Santiago de Cuba was particularly devastated. In Haiti, Sandy …
Churches Donate 500 Emergency Cleanup Buckets in Wake of Sandy
December 11, 2012
New England area churches quickly answered the call for CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets for Hurricane Sandy response, donating approximately 500 buckets in November. The buckets were collected at three points throughout the region and delivered to the CWS warehouse. “I’m deeply grateful for everyone’s work and generosity, and for the hours of effort and work and cost that were invested …
Faith leaders speak out against possible program cuts
November 30, 2012
WASHINGTON — Church World Service Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Earl D. Trent, Jr., joined senior religious officials from 16 states and the heads of some of the nation’s most prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations yesterday to tell the Obama Administration and Congress, “Don’t push the poor and most vulnerable off the ‘fiscal cliff.’” “Our concern,” said Rev. Trent, …
CWS Webinar Focuses on Long-term Recovery Basics
NEW YORK — As part of humanitarian agency Church World Service’s Hurricane Sandy response, CWS Emergency Response Specialists will present a webinar focused on long-term recovery basics, Dec. 4-5. The webinar, which begins at 2 p.m. EST each day, will cover best practices and important steps to remember as communities start to form long-term recovery groups. A special focus of …
Church World Service Statement on H.R. 6429
November 29, 2012
UPDATE: On Friday, November 30, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the STEM Jobs Act. However, the bill cannot become law until the Senate passes it as well. Should the U.S. Senate consider this bill, CWS will send information on how to take action to oppose this bill. Sign up for our Speak Out alerts here. Original story: …
“Don’t Push the Poor and Vulnerable off the ‘Fiscal Cliff'”
November 28, 2012
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, November 29 at 10:30 a.m. EST at the Bread for the World office building (425 Third Street SW), Church World Service Board Chair the Rev. Dr. Earl Trent, will join senior religious officials from 16 states and the heads of some of the nation’s most prominent Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations to tell the Obama Administration …
Tony Hernandez: ‘The immigrant is absolutely crucial to our country’s future.’
Recipient of a 2012 CWS John Backer Award, Tony Hernandez is Co-Founder & CEO of Latino Broadcasting Company, Miami, Fla., and leads the company’s Immigrant Archive Project, which already has captured the first-person story of hundreds of immigrants. Question: What is your immigrant story? Answer: I was five years old in the fall of 1967 when my parents and I …