SITUATION In its worst weather disaster in decades, Japan is dealing with massive floods and landslides in more than 11 prefectures. These are the result of torrential rain that started in early July.  So far, 214 deaths have been confirmed, 19 people remain missing according to CNN, and around 5,000 people reside in evacuation centers […]

June 4 Update: Our team has installed 10,000-liter (2,642-gallon) water tanks in six of the seven camps that we identified, and we have made arrangements with the Kenya Red Cross to have the tanks filled with clean water. Portable latrines have been installed in each camp. Hygiene and sanitation education sessions have been conducted and […]

Situation  Severe flooding in nine counties across Kenya has displaced more than 244,000 men, women and children and has destroyed seasonal crops across an estimated 8,500 acres of land.  Most displaced households are living in temporary shelters or are being hosted by extended family.  Flood waters have washed out roads, cutting market supplies and leaving […]

Situation Severe weather has swept across the American midwest in recent weeks. Flooding has devastated communities in northern Indiana and nearby parts of Michigan; Indiana declared a state of emergency for 22 counties. CNN reports that flash flood warnings or states of emergency have been issued in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio. Flooding is also anticipated in Kentucky, Tennessee and […]

Appeal code: 628-G Appeal amount: $600,000 This is an update to the September 11 appeal, which can be found here. Situation In the past six weeks, three powerful hurricanes have battered parts of the United States. There are nearly two months left in hurricane season as well. Hurricane Harvey dumped up to 50 inches of rain on […]

Appeal code: 6770 Appeal amount: $250,000  Situation Hurricane Irma made landfall in Cuba on September 8 and stayed over the nation as a Category 5 storm for more than 72 hours. Wind speeds topped 125 miles per hour. According to ACT Alliance Member Consejo de Iglesias de Cuba, “Among the most significant effects are the loss of ten lives…the total […]

Appeal code: 628-G  Appeal amount: $500,000  This is an update to the August 29 appeal, which can be found here. Situation Just over two weeks after Hurricane Harvey battered Texas’s Gulf Coast, Hurricane Irma churned north along Florida’s Gulf Coast this weekend. Although Irma has been downgraded to a Tropical Storm, it left as many as 6.5 million people across Florida without […]

Situation Since it made landfall on the evening of Friday, August 25, Hurricane Harvey has brought torrential rains and heavy flooding to much of Texas and Louisiana. The storm’s death toll now stands at 38 people and more than 8,500 people have been rescued from flooding, according to the New York Times.  The rain has stopped in Houston, but the […]

Situation Hurricane Harvey made landfall near Corpus Christi, Texas, on Friday, August 25 as a Category 4 storm with 130 mile per hour winds. The storm is ongoing and slow moving, so the extent of the damage is still unknown. The New York Times is reporting “heavy building damage in Port Aransas and in Rockport…with shredded trees and blown-off roofs. About 250,000 […]

Situation Severe drought is affecting 2.7 million men, women and children in Kenya.  Crop failures are projected at nearly 70 percent, and in February 2017 the Kenyan government declared a national disaster and issued an urgent call for global assistance to respond to emergency drought needs.  Pastoralists and farmers living in arid and semi-arid regions […]

Appeal code: 628-E Appeal amount: $1 million Situation On Friday January 27, U.S. President Trump signed an Executive Order suspending the admission of all refugees to the U.S. for 120 days; suspending resettlement of all Syrian refugees indefinitely; reducing the overall number of refugees to be admitted to the U.S. in FY 2017 from 110,000 […]

Situation As a result of La Niña, Kenya is currently experiencing and will likely continue to experience drought. The second half of 2016 has largely been dry and sunny, conditions that are projected to continue at unusually high levels for the remainder of the year. An estimated 1.25 million people in Arid or Semi-Arid counties […]

OCTOBER 25 UPDATE CWS has responded with Emergency Cleanup Buckets and Hygiene Kits. Four congregations or organizations in North Carolina have received a total of 2,200 Cleanup Buckets and 120 Hygiene Kits. Our appeal funding goal remains at $75,000. Pledged or donated to date: $18,085 To donate, visit cwsglobal.org/HurricaneMatthew. ————————————– October 12, 2016 Appeal Code: […]

October 25 Update Rain – and subsequent flooding – in Haiti’s Northwest Department are causing further severe and acute destruction. CWS partners report that rising water levels are causing roads to be inaccessible and are washing away houses. Our staff talked to the director of a partner agency Saturday evening, and he expressed concern that […]

Situation Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Haiti on the morning of October 4 and Cuba that afternoon, bringing with it heavy rains and powerful winds. The storm first made landfall on Haiti’s southwestern coast with winds of 135 miles per hour, causing flash flooding, mud slides and violent winds. Devastation followed; across Haiti, reports came […]

Situation Typhoon Lionrock made landfall in Northeastern Japan on Tuesday, August 30, leading to widespread evacuations across the area. So far, reports indicate that 11 people have died and thousands more have been displaced. Local authorities in Japan appear to be responding in a very timely manner, such that assistance from external agencies will likely […]

Situation Torrential rainfall has resulted in massive flooding in southern Louisiana. About 40,000 homes have been destroyed by the floods and roughly 30,000 people have been rescued. Thirteen people have been killed and 86,500 people have filed for federal aid. (Source: New York Times) CWS Response When major emergencies happen in the United States, CWS […]

Situation Monsoon flooding has displaced more than 422,000 people in Myanmar since late July. The flooding has affected eight states: Magway, Mandalay, Yangon, Kachin, Ayeyarwady, Mon, Bago and Sagaing. Flood waters are gradually moving south towards the Ayeyarwady River delta, where a dyke breached on August 7 in Ingapu Township, submerging about 1,500 acres of […]

Appeal amount: $2,998,470 SITUATION It has been more than a year since Burundi’s current crisis of political violence began last April, and in that time more than 267,000 Burundians have fled the country seeking safety. The situation in Burundi continues to worsen as unrest spreads from the capital into other provinces. The conflict has also […]

Appeal Code: 76-628-D Appeal Goal: $350,000 Situation There are more displaced persons in the world today than at any point since World War II. Commonly acknowledged as the starkest refugee crisis in generations, there are over 65 million people forcibly displaced in the world, including more than 21 million refugees. In response, the United States […]

“The drought caused by El Niño is one of the most severe in the history of Central America, surpassing in size and impact the situation faced in 2014. Despite mitigation measures, 4.2 million people in the dry corridor have been affected, reaching levels of humanitarian crisis, of which more than 2 million need immediate food […]

The earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan between April 14 and 16 have devastated many lives, and the number of evacuees now exceeds 200,000.  The death toll has increased to 47, and 1,063 are reported to be injured.  More than 2,000 houses have been collapsed or badly damaged. Infrastructure has been cut in most areas, and the difficulty […]

The earthquakes in Kumamoto, Japan between April 14 and 16 devastated many lives, and the number of evacuees now exceed 200,000.  The death toll has increased to 42, and 1,063 are reported to be injured.  More than 2,000 houses have been collapsed or badly damaged. Infrastructure has been cut in most areas, and the difficulty in […]

Appeal Code: 76-6538 Appeal Goal: $400,000 SITUATION Powerful earthquakes with magnitudes as high as 7.3 struck Kumamoto prefecture on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu between April 14 and April 16. The resulting seismic intensity level measured at the highest score on the Japanese seismic scale. In addition to more than 200 aftershocks, the earthquake […]

SITUATION The impacts of climate change and El Niño are already being felt in Pakistan, including through drought, flooding and heatwaves. During a heatwave last year in the Sindh province, the average daily temperature was 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This intense heatwave caused a reported 2,000 deaths; that number is likely significantly higher when remote areas are […]

Appeal #642-R Appeal amount: $1,871,208 Funding Received/Pledged:  $853,710 In-Kind Support Received: $122,000 Note: This is an update to our July 21 update. Situation Political unrest and violence that began in Burundi in late April caused nearly 240,000 people to flee the country in 2015. The unrest has now continued into 2016. In addition to persecution […]

Appeal Code:  76-6640 Appeal amount:  $200,000 Funding Received to date: $141,000 This is an update to our October 8 appeal. SITUATION As of the end of October, more than 689,000 Syrians have sought asylum in Europe since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. They are joined in this journey into Europe by refugees and […]

Situation Since March, thousands of Haitian migrants have returned to Haiti from the Dominican Republic due to pressure from recent Dominican Republic regulations. Voluntary and forceful returns are resulting in constant waves of Haitian migrants returning all along the border. There is no operational governmental plan to welcome them back. In the border area of […]

Appeal Code:  700-W Appeal amount:  $60,000 SITUATION A powerful earthquake centered in northern Afghanistan – measured at 8.1-magnitude by Pakistan’s government and 7.5-magnitude by the U.S. Geological Survey – has affected Pakistan and Afghanistan. The quake could also be felt in India, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates. At least 270 people have been killed […]

Appeal Code:  76-6640 Appeal amount:  $200,000 Funding Received to date: $71,000 This is an update to our September 11 appeal. SITUATION Hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants are continuing to make their way towards and into the European Union. As winter approaches, the need for food, water, shelter and other services in the countries […]

Appeal code: #700-V Appeal amount: $383,168 Appeal funding to date: $41,000 Note: This is an update to ourAugust 5 and August 20 appeals. Situation Flooding and landslides, which are affecting 12 of Myanmar’s 14 states, have displaced 1.6 million people and have caused upwards of $149 million in damage. In total, nearly half a million […]

Appeal Code:  76-6640 TOTAL initial appeal goal:  $200,000 SITUATION As hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants make their way towards and into the European Union, the influx of new arrivals has led to an increased demand for food, water, shelter and other services in the countries through which they are passing. One common route […]

SITUATION The Dominican Republic continues to implement regulations (Law 169-14) that may render many Dominicans of Haitian descent stateless. Voluntary and forced returns of Haitian nationals peaked around a stipulated mid-August application deadline for thousands of people. According to Dominican authorities, as of September 1, 84,000 Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic have received work […]

SITUATION The International Organization for Migration estimates that 350,000 refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa have crossed into the European Union between January and August of 2015, a significant increase over previous years.  The largest group are those fleeing civil war in Syria, followed by smaller populations from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Nigeria and […]

Appeal code: #700-V Increased Appeal amount:  $383,168 Note: This is an update to our August 5 appeal. Situation More than 1.3 million people have been affected by monsoonal floods, landslides and Cyclone Komen since mid-July in Myanmar (Burma). Twelve of the fourteen states and regions across Myanmar are affected, displacing more than 297,000 households. This […]

APPEAL CODE: # 700-S INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $200,000 TOTAL RAISED TO DATE: $47,500 Please note the window for funding this appeal is now closed.       Click here to read CWS’s initial appeal following Tropical Cyclone Pam SITUATION On Friday, March 13 Tropical Cyclone Pam impacted Vanuatu as a category 5 storm, causing mass destruction across […]

APPEAL #: 700-V INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $20,000 Situation On July 30, Cyclone Komen made landfall causing heavy winds, flash floods and landslides across Myanmar (Burma). Although Myanmar typically experiences flooding during the rainy season, this is the worst flooding the country has seen since 2012. With the continuing monsoon rains, the situation will worsen; more […]

Situation Monsoon rains and flooding have destroyed thousands of houses, ruined acres of farmland ready to harvest crops, and have wrecked roadways and bridges. Widespread heavy rain and flooding is expected to continue over the next five days across the country. As many as 500,000 people have been affected by the torrent in the provinces […]

Appeal #642-R Appeal amount: $1,871,208 Funding Received/Pledged:  $581,000 In-Kind Support Received: $122,000 Note: This is an update to our June 10 appeal. Situation Political unrest continues today as Burundians went to the polls in an already contentious election. Despite constitutional limits and continued opposition, Burundi President Pierre Nkurunziza is seeking a third consecutive five-year term. […]

Appeal #642-R Appeal amount: $1,765,430 SITUATION Since April 2015, Burundians have been fleeing their country following election violence and a failed coup that has led to the deterioration of safety and security. Refugees report the main reasons for flight as harassment, threats from the Imbonerakure (pro-government youth paramilitary), arbitrary arrests and an assumption that the […]

Editor’s note: At Church World Service, we offer our concern for all who lost their lives or were injured in Tuesday’s train derailment in Philadelphia.  Our thoughts are with all who were aboard the train or otherwise in harm’s way. EMERGENCY APPEAL #628-C UPDATE #1 2015 U.S. SPRING STORMS INITIAL CWS APPEAL GOAL: $12,000 REVISED […]

Editor’s note: At Church World Service, we offer our concern for all who lost their lives or were injured in Tuesday’s train derailment in Philadelphia.  Our thoughts are with all who were aboard the train or otherwise in harm’s way. EMERGENCY APPEAL #628-C UPDATE #1 2015 U.S. SPRING STORMS INITIAL CWS APPEAL GOAL: $12,000 REVISED […]

Appeal #700-U ACT Alliance appeal amount: $12,817,453 CWS appeal amount: $1,000,000 Nepal continues to struggle following the massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shattered homes and businesses April 25. With an epicenter around 50 miles northwest of Kathmandu, this was the most powerful earthquake to hit the region since the Bihar earthquake of 1934, and its impact […]

EMERGENCY APPEAL #628-C 2015 U.S. SPRING STORMS INITIAL CWS APPEAL GOAL: $12,000 Church World Service is offering CWS Kits and long-term recovery training to communities in a dozen U.S. states that have suffered loss of life, injuries and significant property damage from severe storms since late March. Funds raised toward CWS Emergency Appeal #628-C (2015 […]

APPEAL CODE: 700-T APPEAL AMOUNT: $74,300 SITUATION Following years of armed conflict, millions in Iraq remain displaced from their homes and beyond reach of conventional humanitarian aid sources. UNHCR and other humanitarian organizations have not been able to protect all those in need of assistance due to repeated wars and insecurity in the country. This […]

SITUATION: On March 25, a large storm system and resulting tornadoes, high winds and hail impacted several mid-western states. The storm system stretched from northwest Texas, through Oklahoma and as far east as western Tennessee. Wind and hail damage was reported in Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Illinois and Tennessee. Tornadoes were reported in […]

APPEAL CODE: # 700-S INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $200,000 SITUATION: Tropical Cyclone Pam, a Category-5 storm, hit the island nation of Vanuatu on March 13, causing wide-spread damage. At least 24 people died. The number of deaths is expected to rise as further reports are received from Vanuatu’s chain of 80 islands. Though the entire country […]

APPEAL CODE: 700-R INITIAL APPEAL GOAL:  $250,000 SITUATION: At least 27 people have been killed in the Philippines as Typhoon Hagupit continued its path across that country. Hagupit, now weakened to a tropical storm, was closing in today on the capital of Manila following its deadly grip on the eastern island of Samar, Reuters reported. […]

APPEAL CODE:  #642-Q INITIAL APPEAL GOAL:  $346,679 SITUATION: Kenya has been subjected to a series of attacks by militant groups in recent months. After the Westgate attack in September 2013, successive attacks have targeted various settlement towns in Lamu County, located along the Kenyan coastal line. The attacks began in June, when an armed group […]

APPEAL CODE:  #700-Q INITIAL APPEAL GOAL:  $1,550,584 SITUATION: Torrential monsoon rains this month have so far killed at least 264 people and injured 484 others in Punjab; Pakistani-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir); and Gilgit Baltistan provinces. Low-lying areas have been submerged in water, and electricity and transport systems remain badly affected. The floods have […]

FORMERLY “SPRING STORMS” APPEAL GOAL: $120,000 SUMMARY This summer, severe weather has continued to devastate numerous U.S. states, with wind, tornados, hail, flooding and wildfires causing extensive damage. In support of survivors’ early needs, Church World Service has provided CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets, Kits and Blankets assembled and contributed by its member communions and their […]

SITUATION: On Sunday Aug. 25, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northern California. The quake epicenter was 5 miles SSW of Napa. Early reports are that about 170 persons were injured. There are no reported fatalities. Dozens of buildings have been damaged. Numerous power outages were initially reported with most power restored as of Monday morning.  Damage […]

APPEAL CODE: #700-P INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $91,731 SITUATION Cambodia is currently experiencing severe flooding in 12 provinces. More than 43,443 people have already been affected by the floods– of these, 8,881 people have been evacuated from their communities. At least 19 have died. The flooding has also damaged schools, rural health centers, roads and bridges. […]

APPEAL CODE:  #700-O INITIAL APPEAL GOAL:  $200,043 SITUATION: After being dormant for more than 400 years, the 8,530-foot Mt. Sinabung volcano on Sumatra Island, Indonesia, erupted in August 2010. Since then, more than 200 eruptions have displaced 30,000-plus people from 34 villages in Karo District, North Sumatra Province. The last major eruption, on Feb. 1, 2014, […]

Following the two latest shipments of CWS School Kits to our partner IOCC for children in Syria and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Church World Service has just over 5,000 CWS School Kits in stock, against pending requests for 15,000 from Romania and 3,000 from Moldova – and more requests are expected soon. CWS School Kits give children buffeted […]

Appeal Code: 76-628-B Revised Appeal Goal: $309,818 FUND SUPPORT URGENTLY NEEDED Situation: As noted in our original July 17, 2014, appeal, the situation of unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America and seeking safety in the United States has become dire, requiring a robust humanitarian response. The number of unaccompanied children entering the United States […]

Appeal Code: 76-628-B Initial Appeal Goal: $200,000 Situation Unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America and seeking safety in the United States require a robust humanitarian response. The number of unaccompanied children entering the United States has grown to more than 57,000 so far in 2014, up from 27,884 children in 2013 and far fewer […]

SITUATION: While the global community has been watching Nigeria following the April kidnapping of 223 girls by the Boko Haram extremists, that event has to be seen in the context of an even larger humanitarian problem.  Religious, ethnic and land-based conflicts have uprooted 3.3 million people in Nigeria, according to a recent report by the […]

INITIAL CWS APPEAL REVISED GOAL: $120,000 (INITIAL GOAL $60,000) SITUATION: Severe weather continues to adversely affect numerous states throughout the country causing wind, tornado, hail and flood damage and wildfires in at least 10 states. CWS disaster response specialists are gathering information as it becomes available and making contact with members and partners in affected […]

SITUATION: A full-fledged military operation in North Waziristan (Pakistan) has greatly intensified following recent Taliban attacks on the Karachi International Airport. Suicide bombings that began in December 2013 in the region helped precipitate a spiral of violence and counter-violence, causing displacement of more than 23,000 persons earlier this year. In response to these continuous attacks […]

APPEAL CODE: # 700-N EXPANDED APPEAL GOAL: $550,421 (from $494,020) PLEDGED TO DATE TOWARD GOAL: $185,000 SITUATION: As noted in the initial May 7 appeal and the May 19 update, Afghanistan is experiencing severe weather affecting tens of thousands of persons. Flash floods and landslides in the country over the past weeks have affected 120,000 […]

APPEAL CODE: #6639 APPEAL GOAL: $613,000 Situation As noted in the May 23 appeal, Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been affected by a devastating cyclone, which has resulted in record flooding from heavy rains. In the latest update on the regional effects of the disaster, it is estimated that more than 1 million people […]

APPEAL CODE: #6639 INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $613,000 SITUATION Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been affected by a devastating cyclone, which has resulted in record flooding from heavy rains. Throughout the region dozens are confirmed dead, and many people are still missing. More than 60,000 people have been evacuated and tens of thousands of households […]

APPEAL CODE: # 700-N EXPANDED APPEAL GOAL: $550,421 (from $494,020) PLEDGED TO DATE TOWARD GOAL: $185,000 Situation As noted in the initial May 7 appeal, Afghanistan is experiencing severe weather affecting tens of thousands of persons. Flash floods and landslides in the country over the past weeks have affected 120,000 people across 16 provinces. An […]

Situation Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been affected by Cyclone Tamara, which has resulted in record flooding from heavy rains.  Waters continue to rise.  Dozens are confirmed dead, and many people are missing.  Tens of thousands have been evacuated, and tens of thousands of households are without electricity or drinking water. Also severely damaged: […]

Emergency Appeal #628-A, Update #1 Initial CWS Appeal Goal: $60,000 Overview Spring storms that began April 26 and continued through May 1 took lives, injured many and caused extensive tornado, straight-line wind and flood damage to several thousand homes in more than 20 states. To date, CWS has filled material goods orders from Jefferson County, […]

CWS DEVELOPMENT AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM APPEAL CODE: # 700-N INITIAL APPEAL GOAL: $494,020 Situation: Afghanistan is extremely susceptible to recurring natural disasters due to its geographical location and years of environmental degradation. The country regularly experiences flooding, earthquakes, avalanches, landslides and drought, in addition to human-made disasters, frequently resulting in the loss of lives, […]

Emergency Appeal #628-A Initial CWS Appeal Goal: $60,000 Situation Starting Saturday April 26 and forecast to continue today and beyond, severe thunderstorms and tornadoes have been hitting numerous states in the U.S. Midwest and South and are heading to the East.  By Monday night, at least 17 states had been affected and more are being […]

Situation A 4.1 magnitude earthquake and heavy rains triggered landslides in Afghanistan’s Takhar Province on Saturday, April 12. At least four people have been killed and 100 houses destroyed. The death toll is expected to increase as rescue efforts to remove people trapped under debris are underway. Damaged roads which were flooded are making rescue […]

An 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Tarapacá Region, Chile, late April 1. A six-foot tsunami and several strong aftershocks, including one of 7.6 magnitude, have followed. Arica and Iquique, where most of the population is concentrated, have received waves up to 10 feet, provoking power cuts, fires and landslides. At least six people […]

Snohomish County Mudslide On March 22, rain-saturated ground led to a massive mudslide at Oso in Snohomish County, Wash. As of April 2, 28 fatalities were reported, there were 20 persons injured and 22 persons remained missing or unaccounted for. Search and rescue activities continue and FEMA and state damage assessments are ongoing. State Route […]

Situation: On March 22, rain-saturated ground led to a massive mudslide at Oso in Snohomish County, Wash. The mud and debris is 20 feet deep in places and covers 1.3 square miles across the north fork of the Stillaguamish River and Washington State Route 530 between the towns of Arlington and Darrington. SR 530 is […]

Situation: Drought and resulting extreme food scarcity are imperiling life in District Tharparkar, one of 23 districts in the southern Pakistan province of Sindh. As one example, in the last three months, at least 121 people have died as a result of what authorities believe are drought-related causes – this in the midst of hundreds […]

Situation: As reported on Jan. 31, in the last few months, government-identified political militants and Pakistani government forces have been engaged in skirmishes in North Waziristan, with thousands of families fleeing due to escalating tensions. Adding to the tension: peace talks with the Taliban were suspended on Feb. 17; government airstrikes were ordered against militants, […]

Situation: Mount Kelud, one of the active volcanoes in East Java, Indonesia, erupted Thursday (Feb. 13), with eight continuous explosions. The eruptions forced at least 201,228 people from 35 villages to evacuate their homes, and airports throughout the country are closed due to thick, hazardous ash fall and limited visibility. Lava flows are also affecting […]

Situation: Following a series of armed attacks across the country by government-identified political militants this month, the Pakistan government has been cracking down, including performing small-scale air strike operations in the northern area of North Waziristan. Thousands of families have reportedly fled because of the escalating tensions. At least 6,000 families have moved out of […]

APPEAL CODE:  #700-M APPEAL GOAL:  $750,000 SITUATION: Recovery efforts in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are ongoing with continued needs that remain staggering. According to the United Nations, 13.2 million were affected; 4.33 million people were displaced; and 1 million homes were damaged. In addition, 2.5 million people require urgent food assistance. […]

Church World Service is actively involved with all entities engaged in the relief and recovery efforts following severe weather Sunday, Nov. 17, that battered hundreds of households in 14 US. Midwestern states. The first 200 CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets are on their way now to Illinois, the state hardest hit by Sunday’s devastating string of […]

Appeal # 627 Y Initial appeal goal: $120,000 Revised appeal goal: $150,000 Received to date: $32,000 Situation: Tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and straight line winds of more than 80 mph hit the Middle Mississippi River Valley, the lower Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley on Sunday, Nov. 17.  There were 91 tornadoes, 565 high wind events […]

APPEAL CODE:  #700-M APPEAL GOAL (revised):  $750,000 SITUATION: The estimated number of fatalities from Typhoon Haiyan continues to fluctuate between 2,000 and 10,000. Whatever the final numbers, Typhoon Haiyan’s effects have been devastating, with aid channels slowed due to severe damage to infrastructure and officials urging residents of decimated cities such as Tacloban to leave […]

APPEAL CODE:  #700-M INITIAL APPEAL GOAL:  $250,000 SITUATION: Typhoon Haiyan has killed as many as 10,000 people in the Philippines, with the devastation it caused being described as “absolute bedlam,” the BBC reported. Hardest hit is the central Philippine city of Tacloban, which is said to be flattened and where hundreds of thousands of people […]

Situation As Typhoon Haiyan barrels down on the Philippines, nearly 13 million people are preparing for torrential rain, immense winds and potential flooding in what is expected to be a large-scale emergency. The storm is anticipated to affect 33 provinces, including those already struggling to recover from the recent earthquake in Bohol, and is prompting […]

Appeal #6767 Appeal Goal: $111,500 Situation: Central America is undergoing the worst Coffee Rust plague since 1976. The state of phytosanitary emergency (measures for the control of plant diseases) has been declared in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. The Coffee Rust Plague is a fungus that affects the leaves and destroys crops and plants. Once […]

Appeal #700-L Appeal Goal – $125,000 Situation: As noted in an Oct. 11 situation report, Cambodia is experiencing severe flooding as a result of greater-than-average rainfall caused by typhoons and other severe weather systems. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are overflowing and 16 of 24 provinces are affected by severe flooding, especially those by […]

Appeal #700-L Appeal Goal – $125,000 Situation: As noted in an Oct. 11 situation report, Cambodia is experiencing severe flooding as a result of greater-than-average rainfall caused by typhoons and other severe weather systems. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are overflowing and 16 of 24 provinces are affected by severe flooding, especially those by […]

Situation: Cambodia is experiencing severe flooding as a result of greater-than-average rainfall caused by typhoons and other severe weather systems. The Mekong and Tonle Sap rivers are overflowing and 16 of 24 provinces are affected by the flooding, especially those by major river courses. Flooding has also affected areas in and around the capital city […]

Situation: A second deadly earthquake – this one of 7.2-magnitude — hit Pakistan’s  Balochistan province early Saturday (Sept. 28). At least 22 people died. This follows last week’s quake in the same province, which killed hundreds. Officials fear the death toll from Saturday’s earthquake could rise. The region has suffered massive loss of infrastructure including […]

Appeal # 627 Y Initial Appeal Goal: $120,000 Revised Appeal Goal: $150,000 Received to Date: $27,000 Situation: Heavy rains Sept. 9-16 caused severe flooding in Colorado.  In most of the affected areas, rains exceeded 20 inches over several days.  As many as five dams burst or were overtopped, causing additional flooding.  The flood emergency has […]

Situation: Hundreds died in a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that hit parts of southwestern Pakistan, in an area from Karachi to Awaran in the province of Balochistan, on Tuesday, Sept. 24. The quake was felt as far away as New Delhi, India, and was so powerful that it caused the seabed to rise and create a small, […]

Situation: Continuing heavy rains that began the week of Sept. 8 continue to cause severe flooding in Colorado. Seven fatalities have been reported. Additionally, 218 persons have been injured and 648 are reported missing. At this early stage 1,500 homes have been destroyed and another 17,500 are damaged, according to the Colorado Office of Emergency […]

Appeal #700-K Original Appeal Goal: $30,000 Expanded Appeal Goal: $670,242 Situation: As noted in an Aug. 13, 2013, situation report, continuous monsoon rains in recent weeks have caused flash floods in many areas of Myanmar (Burma), most seriously affecting the southeast part of the country. At least 73,300 affected persons have been living in displacement […]

Appeal # 627Y Appeal Goal: $120,000 Received to Date: $27,000 Situation: Throughout the spring and summer of 2013, numerous emergencies have affected communities throughout the United States. Many communities have suffered the destructive impact of tornadoes. The largest were in Oklahoma, striking the Oklahoma City area over a period of several days.  Affected communities were […]

APPEAL #700-K Appeal Goal – $30,000 Situation: As noted in an Aug. 13, 2013, situation report, continuous monsoon rains in recent weeks have caused flash floods in many areas of Myanmar (Burma), most seriously affecting the southeast part of the country. More than 23,000 people have been affected; some 3,658 acres in farmland have been […]

Heavy rains and floods continue to affect large sections of Pakistan and Afghanistan, killing dozens. Afghanistan Situation: Recent flood waters and rain have devastated several parts of Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Wardak, Ghazni, Khost, Kapisa, Nooristan,Paktika, Paktya, Parwan, Ghoor, Dikundi, and Logar provinces. Authorities say at least 109 people have died and dozens more are […]

Situation: Continuous monsoon rains in recent weeks have caused flash floods in many areas of Myanmar (Burma), most seriously affecting the southeast part of the country.  The UN reports 23,884 people now displaced by the floods in the states of Kayin, Mon, Tanintharyi and Rakhine and the Ayeyawady region. The Kayan state reports 18,842 persons […]

Situation: Parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan have been struck by floods, so far resulting in more than 100 deaths. The floods are caused by seasonal (July-September) monsoon rains that are currently affecting portions of south and central Asia. In Afghanistan, 75 people have died. The affected areas include various parts of eastern Nuristan, Khost, Laghman, […]

Situation: On July 22, 2013, two powerful earthquakes struck a populous farming region near Dingxi, Gansu Province, in northwest China. The U.S. Geological Survey measured the magnitude of the initial earthquake at 5.9 and the second at 5.6.  The Chinese government measured the first quake at 6.6. The earthquakes have left at least 94 people […]

Revised Appeal Goal: $120,000 Received to Date: $27,000 Situation: While severe storms continue to pound many of the U.S. Midwestern and Eastern states, dry conditions in the West have resulted in dangerous wildfires in California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. Of immediate concern is the Black Forest Fire in El Paso County north of Colorado […]

Situation: At least 7 people died and over 50 sustained injuries as a severe storm and rain hit various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in northern Pakistan on Thursday (June 13). This occurred as flash floods have stranded some 700,000 persons in the region, as the Swat River’s raging waters have overflowed. Other floods elsewhere […]

Revised Appeal Goal: $100,000 (Up from $55,000) Received to Date: $27,000 Situation: Severe springtime weather continues to adversely affect much of the United States. In recent weeks, storms, floods and tornadoes have hit many states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Louisiana. On May 15, the EF-4 tornado that hit Granbury, […]

Appeal # 627-Y Initial CWS Appeal Goal: $55,000 Situation: Emergency responders are still in “search-and-rescue” mode, trying to find survivors of a devastating tornado that destroyed large areas of the Oklahoma City area on Monday (May 20). The community of Moore, Okla., was particularly hard-hit. It was still not clear how many people died in […]

As the 2,500th CWS Emergency Cleanup Bucket arrives today in flood-ravaged Illinois, Church World Service is appealing urgently for people to replenish its rapidly dwindling supply. Heavy precipitation from early 2013 storms and floods has resulted in widespread and severe flooding in Illinois and other states. “The CWS Emergency Cleanup Buckets are giving hope and […]

APPEAL # 700-I APPEAL GOAL: $50,000 Situation As reported in April 8 and 19 situation reports, recent fighting in northern Pakistan has displaced thousands of families. The heavy clashes between rival armed groups and subsequent military operations against militants have resulted in huge numbers of displacement in the Tirah Valley of the Khyber Agency (area) […]

Appeal # 700-G Appeal Goal: $119,000 Situation: On April 16, at least six people in Pakistan and 40 people in Iran were killed when a major earthquake, with a 7.8 magnitude, struck a region near the Iran-Pakistan border. Tremors were also felt in India and the Gulf states. The epicenter was in southeast Iran in […]

Appeal # 700-H Appeal Goal: $180,000 Situation: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit a rural area of Sichuan province in southwest China the morning of Saturday, April 20, affecting several Ya’an counties, including Lushan County, the quake’s epicenter.  The earthquake has affected 1.5 million people.  As of April 22, the death toll stood at 188, with […]

Appeal # 627-X Revised appeal goal: $80,000 Situation: The past 10 days were marked by a string of weather- and non-weather-related disasters across the United States.  These included: The Boston Marathon bombing on April 15, claiming three lives and injuring 176 persons, many severely.  More than 40 individuals remain in hospitals. The West, Texas, fertilizer […]

Situation A magnitude seven earthquake hit a rural area of Sichuan province in southwest China the morning of Saturday, April 20, affecting several Ya’an counties, including Lushan county, the quake’s epicenter.  The earthquake has affected 1.5 million people, killing at least 188, injuring more than 11,000 and destroying at least 10,000 homes. The quake cut […]

Situation: As reported in an April 8 situation report, the recent increase in fighting in the Bagh Maidan area of Tirah Valley in northern Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan, has resulted in large numbers of displaced communities. The displacement began late last month. What initially started as a few hundred families fleeing quickly […]

Appeal: # 627-X Appeal goal: $25,000 Situation: Severe weather April 10-13 brought high winds, heavy rains and tornadoes to states in the U.S. Midwest and South.  States affected include Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Additionally, a strong winter storm continued to bring heavy snow, hail and freezing rain to the […]

Situation: At least six people in Pakistan and 40 people in Iran were killed following a major 7.8-magnitude earthquake today that hit a region near the Iran-Pakistan border. The epicenter of the quake was in southeastern Iran, in a sparsely-populated area of mountains and desert. Today’s event was the largest earthquake in Iran in four […]

Situation: The recent increase in fighting in the Bagh Maidan area of Tirah Valley in northern Pakistan, close to the border with Afghanistan,has resulted in large numbers of displaced communities. The displacement began late last month. The Pakistan governments disaster management authority, known by the acronym FDMA, reports that as of March 28, 5,400 families […]

Appeal# 700-F Appeal Goal: $40,000 Situation Thirty-six people died in a fire that broke out March 22 in the Ban Mae Surin refugee camp, in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. The fire swept through two sections of the camp destroying nearly everything; the fire was caused by a cooking accident. The victims reportedly included children, […]

Appeal # 627 X Appeal goal: $25,000 Situation: As harsh weather swept across large areas of the United States during the first several months of 2013, it inflicted particularly severe damage on several scattered U.S. communities. In late January (29-30), multiple tornadoes caused significant damage when they struck six counties in Georgia. Hardest hit were […]

Situation: Response operations continue for Superstorm Sandy.  The unmet needs of many at-risk populations are estimated at over $2 billion.  People are beginning rebuilding and repairs, but the bulk of the reconstruction will not start until long-term recovery organizations are up and running to manage the activities.  See Part One – CWS Response for a […]

Appeal # 627 W Appeal goal: $618,000 Funds received as of 02/28/13: $588,290 Part one: CWS response (See also Part Two – Partner Response by Denominations/Communions) Situation: Response operations continue for Superstorm Sandy. Many homes still require debris removal and temporary repairs before they can be reoccupied.  This work will continue throughout the spring and […]

Appeal # 627-V update CWS appeal goal: $100,000 (unchanged) Funds received: $32,000 Funds received: $37,000 (estimated) Situation: Hurricane Isaac was a slow moving storm that took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage in September 2012. It affected Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama in September 2012, Mississippi and Louisiana were again affected […]

Situation Severe storms and numerous tornadoes January 29-30 affected numerous states ranging from Texas to Pennsylvania and from Kansas to Florida. Power outages, estimated at 120,000 in the affected areas, numerous road blockages and building damage from fallen trees occurred in numerous states.  Localized flooding has also been reported in several states. More than 20 tornadoes were […]

Situation: Floods in the past two weeks following a long drought have left more than 20 people dead, houses destroyed and large stretches of agricultural land devastated due to flooding and resulting landslides. (The parched land cannot absorb the sudden water.) Hundreds of families have been displaced in the floods, which have occurred during post-New […]

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 […]

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 […]

Situation: At least 52 died in an earthquake Wednesday (Nov.7) centered off Guatemala’s Pacific Coast, in the northern part of Guatemala. The 7.4-magnitude quake was felt throughout most of the country, and has forced evacuations, particularly in mountainous areas. More than 700 are in shelters, and hundreds others were displaced. Dozens of homes were damaged […]

Situation report: Clean up and ultimate long-term recovery is just beginning in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The death toll from the storm now stands at 110 in the United States. At the peak of the outages over 8.5 million customers were without electricity. At latest count more than 750,000 customers are still waiting for […]

Situation report: As the last remnants of Hurricane Sandy move out of the Northeast the response to the superstorm continues. The U.S. death toll from the storm is up to 85 in 10 different states. Some 5.5 million electrical customers, down from a peak of 8.5 million, are still without electrical power; the storm caused […]

Update – Oct 30 At the request of the New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, known as NJ VOAD, CWS will be shipping the following items this week to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey for use in the emergency response in New Jersey. The items are: 2,000 CWS Blankets; 3,000 School Kits; 3,000 […]

Situation report: Hurricane Sandy is barreling through the Caribbean, causing damage in the Bahamas and Cuba, as well as Haiti. The Category 2 hurricane has killed four people and is expected to affect the eastern United States next week. In Cuba, the storm affected the eastern part of the country, particularly affecting the provinces of […]

Hurricane Isaac’s drenching rains in late August caused extensive flooding in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, with Louisiana being the hardest-hit of the four states. In its wake the slow-moving storm took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 billion in damage. Power has now been restored to the more than 1 million homes where […]

APPEAL # 627-V CWS APPEAL GOAL: $100,000 (unchanged) FUNDS RECEIVED: $15,000 FUNDS EXPENDED: $9,000 (estimated) Situation: Hurricane Isaac’s drenching rains in late August caused extensive flooding in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana, with Louisiana being the hardest-hit of the four states. In its wake the slow-moving storm took eight lives and caused an estimated $2 […]

APPEAL#: 700-D CWS APPEAL GOAL: $ 131,967 (AMOUNT NEEDED: $31,967) Situation: An Aug. 18 earthquake in Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province caused severe damage in the Sigi district, affecting the sub-districts of Kulawi, Gumasa and Lindu.  Some 330 houses were totally or severely damaged; 851 sustained moderate damage. Rebuilding lost or damaged shelter remains the top […]

Situation: Hurricane Isaac has left heavy damage behind as it crossed the states of Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Texas. While it had only Category One winds, Isaac was a large and wide ranging storm with significant storm surge and extremely heavy rainfall. The remaining moisture from the storm continues to cause intense rainfall in […]

Situation report: Tropical Storm Isaac struck the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba over the weekend and continued into the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast. The Associated Press has reported eight fatalities in Haiti and two in the Dominican Republic. Winds and flooding have destroyed and damaged tents that still house some survivors […]

APPEAL #: 6827 New CWS appeal goal: $ 175,000 Funds Received/Pledged to Date: $40,000 (NOTE: THIS UPDATES AN APPEAL FIRST ISSUED FEB. 24) Situation: The ongoing conflict in Syria has displaced some 2.5 million persons, with hundreds of thousands displaced within the country and others crossing borders in neighboring Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. Jordan […]

Appeal #:  642-L Appeal goal: $1.2 million Situation: A severe drought struck the Horn of Africa last year, and millions of survivors are still in crisis. Conditions improved in areas of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia following rains in late 2011 that allowed crops and pastures to recover in early 2012. However, rains have been uneven […]

Appeal #:627-U CWS Appeal Goal: $30,000 Situation In recent weeks, communities across the United States have been affected by diverse disasters, including severe storms, wildfires and a tropical depression. This appeal summarizes several disasters and describes the CWS response. Minnesota: Severe storms struck the Duluth area in late June, dumping as much as 10 inches […]

APPEAL #: 642-O APPEAL GOAL: $200,000 Situation: Kenya is preparing for general elections that will be held by the end of March 2013. Kenya’s most recent general elections, in December 2007, sparked political violence that spiraled out of control, resulting in deadly conflicts between ethnic communities, killing more than 1,000 people and driving more than […]

Appeal #: 700-D CWS appeal goal: $854,638 Situation: Due to increasing military operations against militants in tribal regions and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (northern Pakistan), residents have begun evacuating to safer regions. The city of Peshawar and its surrounding areas as well as Jalozai camp in Nowshera are the primary destinations for these […]

Appeal #:  642-N Appeal goal: $100,000 Situation: Unusually low rainfall has devastated food crops across the Sahel, a vast African region south of the Sahara desert. An estimated 15.5 million people are now affected by food insecurity in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, the Gambia, Mauritania and Senegal. As conditions continue to deteriorate, more than […]

Situation: Three weeks of record-setting rains have caused floods affecting more than 40,000 people in the Chaco region of Paraguay. The majority of those affected are those living in indigenous communities, many of whom have seen their livelihoods destroyed due to the loss of animals and crops. Others are facing difficulties because the affected areas […]

Appeal Number 627-T Update (April 20, 2012) Appeal Goal: $110,000 Situation: Spring storms and tornadoes continue to cause significant destruction throughout the United States. In recent weeks we’ve seen devastating tornadoes in Texas with significant damage in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Communities most severely impacted were: Arlington, Forney, Lancaster and Dallas. Last weekend’s tornadoes impacted […]

Situation: A deepening food crisis is affecting an estimated 12 million people concentrated primarily in the West African region of the Sahel, with the fear that famine is imminent. The governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania, Chad and Niger have already declared states of emergency and called for international assistance. The United Nations says that […]

Appeal Number 627-T Update Revised Appeal Goal: $110,000 New Appeal Goal: $110,000 Situation Two series of tornadoes and severe storms have affected large swaths of 13 states on Feb. 28 and 29 and then again on March 2 and 3. In all, 51 people perished in the two sets of storms – 39 in the […]

Appeal #: 6827 CWS appeal goal: $100,000 Situation: The ongoing political crisis in Syria has caused tens of thousands to be caught in the crossfire between government and opposition forces. The result? Thousands of Syrians have fled their homes, choosing to escape the violence. Many have migrated to neighboring countries, and many are arriving to […]

Overview: Europe continues to do battle against extreme weather, as plunging temperatures and heavy snowfall sweep through large parts of the continent.  The cold snap that has killed 480 people to date – about a quarter in eastern Europe, and many of them homeless – shows no signs of stopping, while hundreds of Eastern European […]

Situation: More than 120 people, many homeless, have died in recent days due to recent frigid temperatures in eastern Europe.  The weather has also stranded people in Serbia and Bosnia, where snow levels have trapped residents in villages.  Elsewhere in eastern Europe, the cold has closed schools and airports, paralyzing parts of the region. Sub-zero […]

Appeal Number 627-T Update Appeal Goal: $30,000 Situation: Severe storms impacted the south on January 22 and 23. States impacted were Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky. Alabama was the hardest hit with an EF-3 tornado causing significant destruction. FEMA has declared a Major Disaster Declaration (FEMA-4052-DR-Alabama) for Chilton and Jefferson Counties in Alabama. The […]

Appeal Number 627-T Appeal Goal: $30,000 Situation: Over the last 24 hours, widespread storms hit the Middle Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys.  Large hail, high straight line winds and tornadoes have been reported in Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi and Kentucky.  There are power outages in Kentucky, Arkansas and Tennessee. The storm system is still very […]

Appeal #642-L Amount: $1.2 million Amount of funds received as of Dec. 11, 2011: $534,789 Situation: Millions of people continue to feel the effects of a historic drought in Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. October and November rains have allowed some farming communities to plant their fields in anticipation of a harvest in January or February. […]

APPEAL #700-B AMOUNT: $301,769 Situation: Heavy monsoon rains have been plaguing South East Asia since July and have severely affected one-third of Thailand’s land mass. A total of 3.4 million acres of farmland — a landmass 13 times the size of Hong Kong — is submerged under water. More than one-third of Thailand remains under […]

Situation: Cambodia is experiencing its worst seasonal flooding in more than a decade. Seventeen of the country’s 24 provinces have been affected – with 1,500,000 people affected nation-wide and more than 90,000 families displaced, according to authorities. The death toll stands at 207. About 13 percent of Cambodia’s rice crop is currently flooded, almost half […]

APPEAL # 699-Z AMOUNT: $1,723,229 Funding Received to Date: $90,000 Situation: Some 300 people have died from three months of flooding in Sindh, Pakistan, a disaster that has destroyed some 400,000 homes and has left a trial of serious diseases in its wake, with hundreds of thousands suffering from hepatitis and malaria. More than a […]

Appeal # 6762 Appeal Amount for Phase II – $2,171,229 Funds Remaining As of August 2011 for Phase I – $880,884 Funds Needed – $1,290,345 CWS response: A year and a half after the devastating January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, CWS continues to support Haitians in rebuilding their country.  During the first phase of work […]

Appeal # 699-Y New appeal amount: $6,901,476 Amount of funds received or pledged as of Sept. 16, 2011, for the appeal: $6,439,077 Summary of situation: A devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, 2011, triggering a massive tsunami that washed away several coastal cities, destroyed critical infrastructure, crippling more than […]

Situation: Hurricane Irene has left extensive flood and wind damage from Puerto Rico to Maine, as well as causing at least 40 deaths; more than 4 million homes are still without power and more than 10,000 people are in FEMA shelters. Preliminary damage assessments are just starting so there are no numbers yet available of […]

Appeal # 642-L Amount: $1.2 million Situation: This year marks the driest period in the Eastern Horn of Africa region since 1995, with the lowest level of rainfall in more than 50 years. As a result, food security — the access and availability to food — has deteriorated for most households in all arid and […]

Situation: Three volcanoes have sent plumes of ash into the sky and forced thousands from their homes in the northern part of Indonesia’s Sulawesi province. In all, some 6,000 people have been evacuated to six different government-appointed evacuation sites in Tomohon District, including schools, mosques and emergency shelters. The villages of Kinilow, Kakakasen and Kotomohon […]

Situation: Numerous states have been devastated or impacted by severe storms, flooding and hundreds of tornadoes in April and May.  The storms and tornadoes ranged from Oklahoma to the Carolinas. States most severely impacted have been Alabama, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa  and Illinois.  But there was also significant damage in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, […]