CARE in Emergencies NEWSLETTER >> Issue 2, June 2012, Vol
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CARE in emergencies NEWSLETTER >> Issue 2, June 2012, Vol. 6 NIGER: Faces of Hunger Vol. 4, Issue 3 December 2010 More than 18 million people are affected by the food crisis in the Sahel. CARE portrayed some of them. Clockwise from left: Delou Ibrahim, 70. Her granddaughter Latifa, 8. De- lou's hands hold sorrel leaves, used as a condiment, and grains of sor- ghum at her home in Saran Maradi, Niger. Delou Ibrahim has four chil- dren and suffered the loss of nine. "I've seen several crises. The famine in 1984 was the hardest. Rains were very weak. The stems of millet came out but the spikes gave no grain - nothing," she recalls. "Two years ago at least there were people who har- vested millet, but this year the crops have been worse because of the drought." Delou's last crop only pro- vided food for about two days. She receives cash from CARE. "I get to buy cereal to feed my family." They have two daily meals, porridge in the morning and sorghum paste in the evening. Clockwise from left: Maka Ali, 80. Her granddaughter Maria, 10. Maka's hands hold sorghum at her home in Saran Maradi, Niger. Maka Ali has been a wid- ow for twenty years. She has eight chil- dren and about twenty grandchildren. She has experienced the loss of six chil- dren. "I was alone taking care of them, so I cannot say their deaths weren't re- lated to lack of food," Maka recalls. No- body in her family can work, so she re- ceives a cash transfer from CARE. "When I receive the payment, I buy sorghum and maize," Maka explains. "Before this support, I couldn't; I was eating leaves." INSIDE Emergency updates 2 Madagascar cyclone 4 ECB Project 5 Interview: Caroline Saint-Mleux 6 DRC violence 7 CARE Niger is providing humanitarian assistance to people and communities in the Spot the gender differences 8 regions of Diffa, Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder. Through 2012, CARE’s emergency re- sponse in Niger aims to support 245,000 people by reducing food insecurity, The CARE in emergencies newsletter is published by the CARE Emergencies Group in Geneva, Switzerland. strengthening livelihoods and preventing as well as treating malnutrition. To submit ideas, articles, corrections or complaints, please contact emergencycommunica- Photos and stories by Rodrigo Ordóñez, CARE’s Regional [email protected]. The views in this newslet- ter are those of the authors, and do not necessarily Communications Coordinator for the Sahel Food Crisis reflect the opinions of CARE International. 1 Vol. 6, Issue 2, June 2012 CARE in emergencies - newsletter CARE’s emergency response and EMERGENCIES AT A GLANCE: recovery activities around the world Sahel food crisis The Sahel region of West Africa is facing a severe food and cultural tools. In Mali, CARE is providing food, seed and fod- nutrition crisis for the third time in seven years. In a region der to affected households in the southern regions and, while that routinely endures the consequences of environmental seeking access to the northern areas, assisting displaced fam- degradation, chronic poverty and vulnerability, this year has ilies with food and essential household and hygiene items. In been harsher than usual. Irregular rains, limited crops, high Niger, CARE is providing cash in exchange for temporary com- food prices and a drop in remittances have put people’s re- munity work, so families can buy food in the local markets, silience to the test. As of May 2012, 18.4 million people are and assisting Malian refugees and Nigerien returnees with affected in eight countries, and more than one million chil- food and basic relief items. dren are at risk of starvation. The region has also been weakened by conflict in Mali, which has displaced tens of Chad: Population reached by CARE: 62,130 thousands of people and created a severe humanitarian crisis Population affected: 3.6 million in the northern areas. CARE is currently scaling up its emergency operations in Mali: Population reached by CARE: 15,000 Chad, Mali, and Niger, and preparing to support affected Population affected: 4.6 million people in the long-term to make them less vulnerable to future crises. In Chad, CARE is distributing food, giving ac- Niger: Population reached by CARE: 60,353 cess to water and sanitation, and providing seeds and agri- Population affected: 6.4 million Violence in Mali has displaced tens of thousands of people like this family, Niger: People receive cash in exchange for part-time work in projects identified by which has sought security in Niger. Photo: CARE/Ibrahim Niandou their communities. Photo: CARE Rodrigo Ordóñez BY THE NUMBERS: CARE’s response in emergencies over the past six months* Natural disasters 8: number of conflicts CARE responded to Afghanistan: floods, harsh winter Peru: floods 24: number of natural disasters CARE responded to Bangladesh: floods, cyclones, cold Thailand: floods 11: number of complex/chronic crises CARE responded to wave Vietnam: floods 6.5 million: total number of beneficiaries CARE reached Brazil: mudslides, floods 72 million: total number of people affected by those crises Cambodia: floods Central America: floods, mudslides Conflict/Post-conflict Complex/chronic crises Ecuador: floods Caucasus Chad: Darfur refugees Kenya: Somali refugees Niger/Chad/Mali: food crisis Haiti: earthquake, cholera Cote D’Ivoire Chad: CAR refugees Democratic Republic Congo India: floods, cyclone Djibouti: drought/food crisis Somalia: drought/food crisis Japan: earthquake, tsunami Jordan South Sudan: returnees Liberia Ethiopia: drought/food crisis Madagascar: storm, cyclone Sudan: Darfur IDPs Rwanda Gaza: conflict/blockade Myanmar: cyclone South Sudan Kenya: drought/food crisis Pakistan: floods Yemen *This data includes emergency relief, rehabilitation and recovery activities. 2 CARE in emergencies - newsletter Vol. 6, Issue 2, June 2012 IN BRIEF We are very pleased to share with you that the new CARE International Humanitarian and Emergency Strategy 2013-2020 has been approved by the CARE International Board in the recent CI Board meeting. The strategy document will be shared shortly with an official launch of the strategy being planned for August/September. For more information, please contact Barbara Jackson, CARE’s Humanitarian Director: [email protected] “A woman can be as good as a man” The challenges of a woman working as a security officer By Sadaf Rahman, Safety and Security Officer, CARE Pakistan “You cannot do it.” “Security is not for girls; go and find yourself some office job.” “Can you even spell security?” “Oh, you wish to be a security manager, really?” “Why don’t you meet me over dinner and we will see what we can do.” “Thank you for your interest but we would rather hire a man.” ll of the above statements actually happened when I tried to apply for a job in the men-dominated field of security. And I accepted to get discouraged—but A only for a little time or a maximum of a few days. Like the phoenix, I rose from these encounters with an even stronger will and firmer resolve to work in the security field. There was no reason to believe that I couldn’t do it and hence, I finally got the break with the International Organi- zation for Migration when I was hired as Security Officer. Since then, I actually haven’t looked back. Though, there does pop up a little desire occasionally to go to these six different people who said what they said and tell them: “Look, I made it”. I knew a job in security is tough, very tough. I also knew it would be demanding and meant serving in inhospitable envi- ronments. But I persisted believing in the strength of human Sadaf Rahman meets with CARE beneficiaries in Pakistan. Photo: CARE resolve, honestly. I am aware of the many odds that human beings have surmounted in the past and as the saying goes: “A dream of yesterday is a reality today.” I couldn’t put it A security officer has to be on her toes to always be a any better than that. step ahead of those who wish us damage. Not many may know it but it is a perpetual struggle to keep our staff, our BEING A STEP AHEAD projects and premises protected. It also looks adventurous from the outset; but I as a security officer have learnt NOT My resolve to be among the best in the security industry is to be adventurous. This, to me, is the basic definition and unflinching and I would always be looking forward to adding requirement to be in the security business. Being brave value both in my professional occupation and personal devel- means respecting security and safety rules. opment. CARE is a non-political non-sectarian humanitarian I am grateful that CARE practices its belief: gender organization and all that matters to us is improving the lives equality. I will, and am all geared up to, prove that CARE’s of poor people by helping them to overcome poverty. Today, decision to hire me was the right one. A woman can be as humanitarian agencies such as CARE have to deal with good as a man in security. emerging threats while doing their work. We can be targeted Today, as a CAS, a Certified Anti-Terrorism Specialist, I simply because of who we are and what we are perceived to stand with courage and strength and face whatever comes represent. my way. I am a woman. But I am no less than anyone else. Period! 3 Vol. 6, Issue 2, June 2012 CARE in emergencies - newsletter Giovanna: Twitter chronology of a Madagascar cyclone John Uniack Davis Following @johnuniackdavis FOLLOWS YOU 1,365 TWEETS John Uniack Davis is Country Director of CARE 84 FOLLOWING Madagascar, a major humanitarian and sustainable development actor in the country.