A refugee detained by Australia on Nauru has begged New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for help before it’s too late. Fatemah, a 55-year old refugee woman, has been told there’s an imminent risk of her sudden death because of her heart condition. The medical treatment that Fatemah needs is not available on Nauru. Australia approved Read more
Catholic aid organisations are renewing their commitment to protect the vulnerable. Their promise follows an investigation into international aid organisation Oxfam The Times newspaper found Oxfam UK workers demanded sex for money following a catastrophic earthquake in Haiti in 2010. The newspaper also accused Oxfam officials of financial mismanagement, harassment, bullying and negligent supervision. “We are Read more
2017 is shaping up to be a devastating year due to environment-related disasters. From severe monsoon rains in South Asia, to Mexicos record-breaking 8.1 magnitude earthquake, to the recent destruction of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, events … Caritas responds to worldwide emergencies. Continue reading
The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea is already providing aid for communities affected by frost and droughts. Planning is underway for relief assistance in the future should the developing El Niño be as severe as climatologists are predicting. Crop gardens have already been destroyed by frost and rivers and creeks have either dried up Read more
His bags aren’t even unpacked and Miramar man Mark Mitchell is already eyeing the next disaster zone. Mitchell is a humanitarian programme coordinator for Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand. He has just returned from Vanuatu. He arrived there just three days after Cyclone Pam hit. Now, though dates had not yet been confirmed, he will soon Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand is appealing for donations to provide humanitarian relief to those affected by the earthquake in Nepal. Caritas responded rapidly to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that happened on Saturday. It was centered 10 miles below the surface, less than 50 miles from the capital of Kathmandu. Assessments are coming in and Caritas Read more
“Celebrating the Palm Sunday (Children’s Sunday), it is only proper that children and parents in Fiji dedicate their donations to the more than 30,000 children of Vanuatu as well as children of Tuvalu and Kiribati who are facing the aftermath of the cyclone,” said Methodist Church communications secretary, the Reverend James Bhagwan. On Palm Sunday Read more
New Zealand non-government organisations (NGOs) are responding to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Gaza has experienced an upsurge in violence and an increasing number of civilian casualties in recent weeks. Seven members of the NGO Disaster Relief Forum (NDRF) have launched or are about to launch appeals to raise funds that will Read more
Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand has contributed an initial $20,000 to support a humanitarian response to the emergency in Gaza. Caritas Jerusalem is providing medical assistance, food and other necessities to the thousands of vulnerable people affected by the escalating conflict. More than 775 people have been killed during Israeli attacks, with more than 100,000 Palestinians Read more
It is one of the major blind-spots in international humanitarian aid. But recent and ongoing emergencies demonstrate the crucial role that local people have to play in the aftermath of disasters. Much of the humanitarian work currently taking place in Syria and neighbouring countries would not be possible without networks of dedicated organizations which understand where Read more