Relief works require responses appropriate to the various, interlinked, phases of disaster. ‘Long term service’ and ‘total commitment’ are also required of the relief workers in dealing with future events. CEDAR follows these principles:

In Close Cooperation with Local Partners
All assessment, relief and rehabilitation works are implemented by CEDAR local teams or partners. With thorough understanding on the need of local communities and good resources network, local partners can provide effective relief efforts to victims, even the most helpless in the remote mountainous areas.

The Most Vulnerable People are Prioritized
The poor, elderly, disable people, minorities, women and children are the most vulnerable in both natural and human disasters. Therefore, CEDAR would concern about their needs first in relief and rehabilitation work.

Ensuring Materials Reaching the Victims
Staff of CEDAR or partners go to the affected areas and deliver the materials directly. Beneficiaries are requested to register and sign for acknowledgment of receipts of materials. All our partners are Christian groups which have been serving in the local communities. With their experiences, it is ensured that there is no mis-allocation in relief operations.

Purchasing Relief Materials Locally or Near by
Local partners know the prices and sources of materials very well. Hence it is less expensive on transportation to purchase goods locally, and in turns benefits the local economy.

Limiting Administration Fee below 10%
We limit the administration fee for Myanmar Cyclone Disaster and Sichuan Earthquake Disaster operations at 10% so that more than 90% of donations can be spent on beneficiaries.

Rehabilitation: First on Community Development
To survivors, “rehabilitation” not only stands for the rebuilding of livelihood and living, but also the recovering of soul and family. CEDAR partners, with long-term relationship with local communities, would plan the rehabilitation programmes according to the unique local ways of living, cultures and economies. Besides, we also concern about all physical and spiritual factors and needs of survivors holistically.

Rehabilitation: Disaster Preparation and Emergency Training
Recovery and reconstruction often provide an opportunity to reorganise a community and reduce its vulnerability to future hazards. CEDAR provide training in disaster and contingency preparations to local partners; and will strengthen local communities to be alert of future disasters, including mitigation to introduce measures to minimise the extent of the damage, and prevention to help the community with a better response plan to possible disasters.