Africa Archives - Page 68 of 70

Kenya crisis: past, present and future

3/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Kenya, Peacebuilding by Caritas Communications

In the course of his day’s work last week Stephen Kituku saw hungry children with swollen stomachs, dead animals on roadsides and met families who were surviving on one meal a day. He’s the National Emergency Officer for Caritas Kenya. That was one day, it’s probably safe to say that what he sees over the next ...

Kenya: a long road to reconciliation

3/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Kenya, Peacebuilding by Caritas Communications

The crisis in Kenya in 2008 was triggered by the alleged rigging of the December 2007 preside ntial election — setting various ethnic groups against each other. What began as political violence, quickly became ethnic. By 21st January 2007, “ethnic cleansing” had resulted in displacement of more than 300,000 people of all walks of life ...

Next steps in healing Congo

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Disaster Preparedness, Emergencies, Emergencies in Congo, Peacebuilding by Caritas Communications

Pots, plates, cutlery, soap, shirts, blankets….the list of things you need if you’re forced to leave your home and possessions behind is endless. These are just some of the items Caritas has been providing over the past six months to the people who have fled their homes due to fighting between the Government and rebels ...

Zimbabwe: No country for old men

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Food, Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe, Malnutrition, Peacebuilding, Zimbabwe by Caritas Communications

Until recently, wheelbarrows in Zimbabwe were used to ferry about huge amounts of cash to buy basic food stuffs. The economy was crumbling and hyperinflation meant that even though people were suddenly millionaires, all they could afford was a loaf of bread. Then, as a cholera epidemic swept the country they were used to carry ...

Zimbabwe’s hunger

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Food, Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe, Malnutrition, Zimbabwe by Caritas Communications

Children in Zimbabwe are fainting at school from hunger – well at least in the schools where there are teachers. The cost of travelling to their job and buying lunch is often too much for their small salaries.

Urgent appeal for Congo

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Emergencies, Emergencies in Congo, Peacebuilding by Caritas Communications

Caritas needs US $12 million to provide the basic needs of 400,000 people caught in escalating conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The conditions have sharply worsened for over one million people because of an increase in fighting between foreign militias and the government’s army. The militias include the FDLR militias (Democratic Forces for ...

Rape destroying Congo’s communities, says Caritas psychologist

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Congo, Democratic Republic of, Emergencies, Emergencies in Congo, Female face of migration, Migration by Caritas Communications

Some of the rape victims who are brought to Caritas Congo are as old as 70. One of the youngest to require help was just three months old. “Some of the women who come to us are so badly damaged by the rape that they can no longer walk,” says Ange Mbala, a psychologist for ...

Darfur operations set to increase

2/09/2009 Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Emergencies in Darfur and South Sudan, Sudan by Caritas Communications

A quarter million people are assisted everyday to survive and find a better life in Darfur thanks to the support Caritas members receive around the world. That support is being expanded to include activities in camps were other international aid agencies have been asked to leave. Caritas Internationalis works in Darfur with ACT International, an ...

Small steps to big changes in Africa

17/08/2009 Africa, Aid Success Story, Development, Ethiopia, Poverty Elimination by Caritas Communications

Rural communities in northern Ethiopia weren’t sure they could trust what they were hearing. How could anyone benefit by setting aside the equivalent of a few pennies each month? Come visit the Weini savings and lending group a year and a half later, and they are singing a new tune. At first, saving was slow. ...

Desperation in Zimbabwe

3/11/2008 Advocacy, Africa, Conflicts and Disasters, Emergencies, Humanitarian Crisis in Zimbabwe, Peacebuilding, Zimbabwe by Caritas Communications

The Catholic Church in Zimbabwe says that the country’s leaders are playing politics while the people suffer. They point to a failure to announce a new inclusive Cabinet as going against the will of the people for coordinated action. Zimbabwe’s Bishops say that a power sharing agreement signed in September could transform the country’s bleak ...