The Quarterly Emergencies eUpdate provides timely updates on our emergency programs for children in the United States and around the world.
Greetings,
Welcome to the second edition of the Quarterly Emergencies eUpdate. It has been a busy quarter for Save the Children as we responded to the needs of those affected by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, the Wildfires in the Western United States and ongoing emergencies around the world, including the crisis in Darfur and the displacement of Iraqi children in Jordan.
On behalf of the millions of children and families we serve worldwide, we extend our thanks to you for your continued support of our emergency response efforts.
Although they survived the storm, thousands of families are left without shelter, food or source of income. To assist cyclone affected families, Save the Children is developing long-term recovery programs focusing on health, education and livelihoods. In this letter you can read the latest update from Bangladesh, including details from our relief efforts and plans for long-term recovery programs. You can also read about how Save the Children’s emergency preparedness efforts saved thousands in Bangladesh.
When out-of-control wildfires drove 850,000 in Southern California from their homes this October, Save the Children responded quickly to the needs of children and families. Our staff and partners set up Safe Spaces in shelters and disaster aid centers and provided essential items to families, schools, child care centers and community organizations in some of the hardest-hit, least-served areas. Through the Resilient and Ready and Journey of Hope programs, we also helped children and caregivers build coping skills and a sense of safety and control.
None of our work would be possible without your generous support. We send our deepest gratitude and look forward to working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Tell Congress to Support Your Children's Health.
Almost ten million children under five will die this year from preventable and treatable diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. In times of emergency and crisis the fatality rates for these treatable diseases are even higher.
When emergencies strike, Save the Children is often able to reach these children though its pre-existing Community Health Worker programs whereby local community members are trained to prevent and provide treatment for various life threatening illnesses.
Legislative Update...
Congress and the President Support Children in Disasters
The Kids in Disasters Well-being, Safety and Health (WISH) Act of 2007, which will create a National Commission on Children and Disasters, is now law! Thanks to all those who wrote, called or emailed Members of Congress and helped convince them to take this step towards ensuring children’s needs are met during future disasters. Learn More >>>
Save the Children added to FEMA Advisory Council
Mark K. Shriver, Save the Children's Vice President of US Programs, will serve on the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) National Advisory Council. The appointment marks the first time that a child-focused organization will be represented on the council. Learn More >>>
Kelland Stevenson Country Office Director, Bangladesh
Mark Shriver Vice President and Managing Director, U.S. Programs
Current Response
Featured Story - Jordan
Save the Children continues to monitor the situations in Mozambique and Kenya. Read about our current work in response to the needs of children in emergencies around the world. Read More >>>
Save the Children continues to work to support the protection and education needs of displaced Iraqi children, now living in Jordan. Read More >>>
Emergency Preparedness
Save the Children’s emergency preparedness planning focuses at the country-level to put plans, resources and mechanisms in place to ensure that those affected by emergencies receive adequate assistance in a timely manner. In Bangladesh, these preparedness efforts saved tens of thousands of lives. Read More >>>
Safe Spaces
Save the Children creates Safe Spaces to help children recover from the effects of emergencies and crises. In the United States, Save the Children pre-positions kits full of materials to create Safe Spaces with organizations like the American Red Cross and provide training to staff before disasters strike. Read More >>>
Updates on On-Going Relief and Recovery Efforts
Darfur
Bangladesh
Despite unrelenting violence in Darfur, Save the Children continues to provide food, water, healthcare, protection, as well as education and livelihood opportunities for the most vulnerable children and adults in Sudan’s West Darfur State. Save the Children is currently the largest international organization conducting relief efforts in Darfur, reaching approximately 500,000 displaced children and women from surrounding conflict-affected communities each month. Read More >>>
On November 15, Cyclone Sidr struck the southern coast of Bangladesh killing 3,000 people and affecting more than 2.5 million. The storm destroyed more than 300,000 homes, washed away schools, scattered families and left thousands of children and families in need of food, shelter and medical supplies. Save the Children provided emergency relief to more than 130,000 and saved thousands more though emergency preparedness programming. Save the Children will continue to support the long-term needs of cyclone affected children and their families through programming in education, health and livelihoods. Read More >>>
Rebuilding Lives After the Tsunami – 3 Years Later
Wildfires in California
Three years have passed since the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in December 2004, devastated the Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) Province. Over 637,000 beneficiaries have received assistance through the Save the Children Alliance tsunami emergency response program. Through programs focused on protection, education, health, livelihoods, food security and disaster risk reduction, Save the Children is helping to rebuild the physical and social structures that were lost, disrupted or threatened by the tsunami disaster and the armed conflict. Read More >>>
As wildfires forced thousands from their homes in Southern California this October, Save the Children helped over 12,000 affected children and caregivers recover. Over eight weeks, Save the Children established Safe Spaces, provided essential items to families and community organizations, and helped children and caregivers build coping skills and prepare for the next emergency. Read More >>>
On behalf of the millions of children and families we serve worldwide, we extend our thanks to you for your continued support of our emergency response efforts.
When out-of-control wildfires drove 850,000 in Southern California from their homes this October, Save the Children responded quickly to the needs of children and families. Our staff and partners set up Safe Spaces in shelters and disaster aid centers and provided essential items to families, schools, child care centers and community organizations in some of the hardest-hit, least-served areas. Through the Resilient and Ready and Journey of Hope programs, we also helped children and caregivers build coping skills and a sense of safety and control.
Save the Children’s emergency preparedness planning focuses at the country-level to put plans, resources and mechanisms in place to ensure that those affected by emergencies receive adequate assistance in a timely manner. In Bangladesh, these preparedness efforts saved tens of thousands of lives.
