In brief

Programme summary:

The International Federation supported the Timor-Leste Red Cross/Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) in disaster management, health and care, and organizational development programmes in 2008 which demonstrated good results, despite challenging conditions in the country.

Through its community-based disaster preparedness/risk reduction activities in nine districts, the disaster management programme successfully supported communities in reducing the

In Afghanistan inflation has reached 17%, mostly on the basis of food price rises. Wheat is the staple, and the country is a net importer. According to the USDA, Afghanistan's balance of payments will worsen dramatically as their food import bill becomes significantly more expensive. Pakistan, which banned wheat exports due to domestic price hikes and shortages last winter, is its principle supplier. The country has no strategic grin reserves, and has been advised not to create reserves as this will compete with consumers. The winter emergency

Period covered by this update: 1 January 2008 - 30 April 2008

Summary: The sum of CHF 145,212 (USD 125,772 or EUR 89.792) was allocated from the Federation's Disaster

- Early prospects point to the possibility of a significant increase in world cereal production in 2008, mainly following expansion of winter grain plantings in Europe and the United States coupled with generally satisfactory weather conditions.

- International prices of most cereals remain high and some are still on the increase. Continuing strong demand and dwindling stocks are providing the backdrop to a prevailing tight global cereal supply and demand situation in the current 2007/08 marketing season, keeping upward pressure on international markets.

This appeal document briefly covers the main outcomes the programmes seek to achieve over the next two years. More detailed information is provided in the 2008-2009 Plan and Summary Matrix.

In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease,

Flak-jacketed police and bodyguards spilled out of the presidential convoy and secured the riverfront. Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta then casually walked to the banks of the Raumoko River and watched as men piled rocks into wire cages. Ramos-Horta, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, was inspecting one of the development projects that Concern is carrying out with local partner groups in Luro, a sub-district of the

"There is a greater occurrence of extreme events," Ms. Wahlström said as she briefed correspondents on the surge of flooding in South Asia and elsewhere. "The great risk is that large numbers of people are living in the most vulnerable areas in the