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September 16, 2006
Update and photos of Gorom-Gorom flood and relief
Background
These are a few photos from Alain Kombere of the flood in Gorom, showing some of the main streets, and thigh-high water around the bus station. You can see more here. Thankfully now, the floodwater has largely dissipated, but with the rainy season continuing, standing water is still a problem.
Update
We have managed to buy 1000 mosquito nets at a good price, and these should be distributed in the next few days. This will be a great relief for the population, as the malaria-carrying mosquitos are breeding in the standing water. Pastor Daniel in Gorom continues to pass on thanks from Gorom residents for your help. Food was a major need, but we now seem to be on top of that situation, and are focusing on other needs.
We have also found a source of blankets and mats, which we are looking at for our next target. However, the big issue is still the question of temporary and long-term appropriate solutions to the shelter situation. People sheltering in schools will have to leave soon, and will need to return to their homes. If the rains are continuing, they will need some kind of temporary shelter. But soon after, when the rains stop, they will want to re-build their homes, and many may need help with this. Please pray that we can see the best way to help people.
Thank you.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
Global Day for Darfur
Tomorrow is the Global Day for Darfur. Follow the link to add your name to find out more, join the campaign, and to see messages from Tony Blair, Desmond Tutu and others. Tony Blair has criticised the Sudan government for its failure in Darfur.
Meanwhile, Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, as new head of the African Union, will chair a meeting next week in New York about Darfur, on the fringe of the UN General Assembly.
Tags: africa african union day for darfur sudan darfur
September 15, 2006
News affecting Africa
* Malaria.
DDT has been approved by the World Health Organisation for malaria control. It was previously banned because of concerns over environmental and health risks. However, as I argued here, the potential benefits of careful use of DDT as an effective insecticide against mosquitos seem to far outweigh the evidence for potential dangers.
* World Bank Aid
The UK is witholding $50m of contributions to the World Bank in protest at harmful conditions attached to aid for poor countries. According to the BBC, "Oxfam and other campaigners such as Christian Aid say the World Bank's current policies often leave people in developing countries worse off than before."
* Sudan
The BBC reports that more than 200,000 people have died in Sudan's Darfur conflict. Sudan recently rejected a UN resolution authorising a 20,000-strong force for Darfur, saying it is an attack on its sovereignty.
Tags: malaria africa ddt world bank sudan darfur aid health
September 12, 2006
Brief Update on Gorom Relief
The latest food distribution went well again on Saturday, for which we thank God.
We have now found a source for mosquito nets at a special "social" price for the emergency relief, for which we are thankful. For large nets, already treated with insecticide, we will be paying about $2/net rather than the commercial price of $6. We are buying 1000 for distribution later this week.
Apparently the national Burkina press have also heard about our work and have been up to interview the team in Gorom!
Please pray that we can continue to respond effectively to the need. Many thanks.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
Brief Update on Gorom Relief
The latest food distribution went well again on Saturday, for which we thank God.
We have now found a source for mosquito nets at a special "social" price for the emergency relief, for which we are thankful. For large nets, already treated with insecticide, we will be paying about $2/net rather than the commercial price of $6. We are buying 1000 for distribution later this week.
Apparently the national Burkina press have also heard about our work and have been up to interview the team in Gorom!
Please pray that we can continue to respond effectively to the need. Many thanks.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 06, 2006
Telephone Communication with Burkina Faso
While I was in Burkina Faso this year, I bought a copy of the national telephone directory to bring home to the UK with me. This is a photo of it - containing all the land-line telephone numbers in the whole country - lying on top of the phone book for my home town of Cardiff in Wales...
The phone book has been very useful during this time of trying to organise the relief aid for Gorom-Gorom, as I have been able to find people and organisations to call to try and get help. I usually call Burkina from my computer using Skype. Although there is a slight delay, it is an excellent way of keeping in contact. I was talking to the pastor in Gorom-Gorom a couple of days ago about Friday's food distribution, and he asked me to pass on thanks to everyone for their prayers and help. Thank you.
Broadband and Mobile Phones
Apparently a few of my friends in parts of Ouagadougou now have Broadband! (Although I'm not sure that translates into quite the same speeds as the broadband we have here...).
Mobile telephone coverage is also expanding rapidly, and I am trying to get hold of a few second-hand mobile phones as people upgrade to newer models, to give to my friends and key contacts around Gorom-Gorom. Gorom is covered by a mobile network, and being able to get hold of Seydou or one of the pastors without having to leave a message and call back several hours later will be so helpful in co-ordinating relief efforts like this.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina telephone gorom phone book communication telecommunication gorom-gorom mobiles
September 04, 2006
Brief Update on Gorom-Gorom Flood Relief
Background
Update
The second food aid distribution on Friday again went very well, and we have been asked to pass on the appreciation of the people of Gorom-Gorom for the help given. This is the hungriest time of year anyway, and the losses from the flood have added to people's hardship as they were still struggling to recover from the food crisis of 2004-5. The food aid at this time is a huge help for people. Thus the team on the ground have decided to do another distribution this coming Friday.
A new and more accurate assessment has increased the figure for the number of families affected to about 800. We have found about 600 "two-place" mosquito nets, and are hoping to find more so that we will be able to give at least one net per family. Daniel, Andy, and team are meeting this afternoon together with Red Cross and local authority representatives to look at the priorities for the coming weeks.
We are still looking for plastic sheets or similar to bring up to Gorom, before people have to leave the classroooms at the start of the school year in two weeks time. It looks like we may now have someone in Ouaga to help us find these and other needs, which will be a huge help - and a relief for me, as I have been trying to track them down from here in the UK, which is not easy!
In the News
In weeks where Lebanon, Ethiopian, and other crises have been at the centre of media attention, Gorom-Gorom has not of course been in the news. I did a press release here in the UK, which got picked up by some of the local news and Christian media. Inspire magazine picked up on it, and you can read their article online.
Travels
I am off to the US tomorrow for two weeks to meet up with the World Horizons people there as well as the good people of Hatteras Island Christian Fellowship, who have been supporting our work for the past few years. I think these are important meetings as I move into this new phase of life and ministry for the coming years.
But I will also need to be keeping a hand on developments in Gorom, which will be less easy while travelling. Please pray that God blesses this time and helps me accomplish all I need to do.
Many thanks
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
September 01, 2006
Gorom-Gorom Food Aid Distribution
Following the floods in Gorom-Gorom that destroyed half the town and made thousands homeless, we have begun our relief effort for the local population.
Background
Update
These are photos from last Friday's food aid distribution. The top photo shows the distribution happening at one of the five selected sites, at the bus station. The bottom photo shows the grain being collected. Each family received 13kg of grain, and people came with their own bowls, sacks, buckets, or cloth to collect it.
The second distribution is happening today. Please pray for Andy, Daniel, and team as they continue to seek to respond to this situation with the love and wisdom of God.
Our previous food aid distribution was sorghum, which is eaten locally, but we are responding to requests from the local population to bring millet instead, as this is more useful to them.
Please pray for today's distribution, that it goes as well as last week's, and that this helps vulnerable people to find some stability in the crisis.
Next Steps
We are trying to find a good quantity of mosquito nets at reasonable prices to purchase in Ouagadougou and bring up. Malaria is a big problem at this time of year.
IRIN reports that, as well as mosquito nets, temporary shelter is a big need. People currently sheltering in schools will need to move out shortly to make way for the new school year. Tents are hard to find - Red Cross have only been able to provide 15 of an estimated 330 needed. We want to investigate other possibilities too.
Please pray as we try to respond to the most urgent needs, that we can identify those needs and respond appropriately.
Tags: burkina faso africa burkina photos gorom flood emergency aid crisis gorom-gorom
