Pray for Myanmar

(4 March 2021)

 

From the beginning of February, people from different industries and backgrounds have continued to come onto the streets, a site that is familiar to many.

 

In Myanmar, there has been bloodshed, countless have been arrested during the night and news outlets remain blocked. At the time of writing, at least 50 protestors killed since the military seized control on 1 February. Sorrow, anger and fear have filled the hearts of the people in Myanmar. We pray to our loving and righteous Lord to hear and see the people’s plight and those who are mourning.

Continue reading Pray for Myanmar

“Ministry will bear no meaning if you don’t address the poor’s needs,” said CEDAR’s Indian partner

CEDAR Fund’s partner EFICOR distributes emergency supplies to flood-affected families in Kerala (Photo credit: EFICOR)

 

“If we don’t address the needs of the poorest people in the community, then our projects will have no meaning,” said Ramesh Babu, programs director of EFICOR.

 

EFICOR, the Evangelical Fellowship of India Commission on Relief,  is our Indian partner accumulated 51 years of experience in poverty alleviation and disaster relief. In India, climate change is closely linked to increased poverty. More than half of India’s working population is farmer, and around 30% of total population lives below the poverty line. While it is most affected by climate change, it frequently suffers from severe floods and droughts. Farmers’ annual harvests are also greatly reduced because of the impacts of global warming. Last year, several hundred peasants committed suicide because they could not bear the huge economic pressure brought by the drought in Tamil Nadu, South India.

 

When facing disasters, poor farmers are usually the most vulnerable as they lack knowledge, economic capacity and reliable social infrastructure to deal with natural hazards.

Continue reading “Ministry will bear no meaning if you don’t address the poor’s needs,” said CEDAR’s Indian partner

CEDAR Supports Post-flood Relief in Kerala State

CEDAR Fund’s Indian partner EFICOR provides food and non-food aid to flood-affected families in Kerala (Photo credit: EFICOR, 27th August, 2018)

 

“This is a wonderful moment as this act of love is a great and timely support for my family to survive for one month… It is a god-given comfort for my family.” Indu, resident of Kerala in southern India, says.

 

Last month, Kerala suffered the worst floods in a hundred years. Indu is still reeling from fear. The floods took away all her belongings and destroyed her house. Indu and her family temporarily stayed in a relief camp. Since her husband has been living with kidney disease, Indu could not imagine when their house could be rebuilt and when her sons could continue school.

Continue reading CEDAR Supports Post-flood Relief in Kerala State

Disaster Prevention is Not Easy: Villagers building dam in northwestern Bangladesh

Floods cause sand to cover agricultural land, forming sandbar one by one like this

 

If you have read SHARE July 2018, you are not unfamiliar with the concepts of Disaster Management and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). Through the ePrayer this week, we are going to have a look at Kurigram District in northwestern Bangladesh to understand the challenges of poor community doing disaster management work.

Continue reading Disaster Prevention is Not Easy: Villagers building dam in northwestern Bangladesh

Let Indians voice their right to information: Christian group bridges government and villagers

CEDAR’s partner EFICOR formed and supported the Disaster Management Committees(DMC) in 15 villages of Hasanpur block of India. DMC mmember Mr. Buchi Thakur (centre) is helping women, widows, old people, and people with disability in his village to access pension and other government entitlements

 

When confronting natural disasters, impoverished people are often the most vulnerable group. It is especially difficult for them to cope with disasters due to a lack of resources and knowledge, resulted from limited education. Although public resources are available, they may not be aware of it and do not know how to access. CEDAR’s partner organisation in India has witnessed the difficulties of poor people in obtaining information and government assistance.

Continue reading Let Indians voice their right to information: Christian group bridges government and villagers

Wish Them Health!

40-day-old Muhammad was carried by his cousin to the Mother and Child Healthcare Centre for check up


According to UNICEF, neonatal mortality rate stands at 46 deaths per 1,000 births, and 81 in every 1,000 children do not live past their 5th birthday in Pakistan. 178 of every 100,000 pregnant mothers die during or after delivery. These numbers tell us that surviving and living healthily is a challenge to Pakistani children and mothers.

Continue reading Wish Them Health!