News & Updates | Posted Wednesday, January 10, 2018
During my first visit to Houston, shortly after Hurricane Harvey struck, I saw the flooding and the destroyed furniture piled along the streets in so many neighborhoods. Many organizations were providing much-needed immediate assistance. Four months after the storm, I returned to Houston to visit with ECHOS and the leaders of the Cambodian Village in Rosharon. I wanted to know …
News & Updates | Posted Friday, December 15, 2017
As we approach end of year celebrations, this is a good time to take stock, reflect and see what lies ahead in terms of climate change. Here is my own 2017 review – the good, the bad and the hopeful. The good news is that, even if 2017 was marked by shock and dismay at the dismantling of once-bold U.S. …
News & Updates | Posted Monday, October 2, 2017
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 parts of Texas. Piles of …
News & Updates | Posted Monday, September 11, 2017
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 power. Nearly 10,000 army personnel are taking …
News & Updates | Posted Friday, August 19, 2016
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 provides supplies as requested, including …
News & Updates | Posted Friday, August 19, 2016
On World Humanitarian Day, we recognize the humanitarian aid workers who stand on the front lines of conflict and disaster, braving tremendous dangers and difficulties to help those who need it most. One of these humanitarian aid workers is my colleague, Harun Tambing. Harun has been a team member and leader in many of the humanitarian response actions that CWS …
News & Updates | Posted Thursday, January 28, 2016
The Pacifique family is much like any other. Enjoying meals together, working, and going to school, their daily routines are the same as millions of other Americans. However, their journey to create this life was far from ordinary and often a journey to survive. Their journey started in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, the war in Congo, sometimes known …
News & Updates | Posted Wednesday, December 2, 2015
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 migrants from many other nations. …
News & Updates | Posted Friday, November 6, 2015
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 Anse à Pitres, returnees have …
News & Updates | Posted Thursday, October 8, 2015
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 through which they are passing …