CBM donated a nine seater Volkswagen minivan to the Henry Wanyoike Foundation during a short ceremony held on 22nd March 2012 in Nairobi at the CBM Regional Offices. This will assist the foundation as it prepares for its annual community race which helps in creating awareness about people living with disabilities. Henry is a renowned Kenyan athlete who has excelled in the athletics field and is recognised both locally and internationally.
CBM and its local partner Karkara are supporting 400 pastoralist households of the municipality of Aderbissinat, in central Niger. In a context where a food crisis is about to affect the whole Sahel region of Africa, the project aims at enabling extremely vulnerable families to pass the summer lean season, which is expected to be particularly long and difficult this year, and be better prepared for the next. Specific activities are also planned to help the persons with disabilities of this community to organise themselves and develop their economic potential.
“Now I can get to where food is being distributed with ease” she adds. Sabina fell down when she was young, and could not walk again. Her parents treated her the best way they knew how by using herbal medicine that didn’t work for her.
A tripartite agreement between CBM, KRC and APDK in mainstreaming disability within KRC operations in northern and north-east regions of Kenya has seen persons with disabilities (PWDs) assisted through the concerted effort to maximise the access of activities implemented in response to the food crisis. The programme launched on 25th November 2011 will also increase and support their access to existing specialised services through donation of mobility devices.
February 2012. Tropical storm Washi hit the southern Philippines between 16 and 18 December 2011, causing tremendous damage. More than 1,200 died and over 6,000 were injured. Overall, 1.1 million were affected, including tens of thousands of persons with disabilities. For the latter, access to appropriate aid remains incredibly difficult in this type of disaster situations.
What has become of persons with disabilities after the storm?
For many Haitians, the effects of the devastating 2010 earthquake still dictate their lives. From the beginning, CBM and local partners were involved in the response, but the strategy has always been long-term. For all programmes, CBM is working with the local organisations to build expertise and training of skilled workers in order to strengthen self-responsibility and independence.
December 2011. CBM deploys an assessment mission in the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, where storm Washi has affected close to 640,000 people and caused a thousand deaths.
‘A terrible tragedy’
One of the most affected areas is Cagayan de Oro City, where 175,000 people have been displaced due to terrible floods and landslides that washed houses away. More than a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 12 hours. Only 26,000 of the displaced could find shelter in crammed evacuation centres.
December 2011. CBM deploys an assessment mission in the island of Mindanao, in the southern Philippines, where storm Washi has affected close to 150,000 people and caused more than 500 deaths.
‘A terrible tragedy’
One of the most affected areas is Cagayan de Oro city, where close to 35,000 people have found shelter in evacuation centres due to terrible floods and landslides that washed houses away. More than a month’s worth of rain fell in less than 12 hours.
October 2011: Natural disasters are hitting hard in Southeast Asia and Central America at present. CBM and its partners are monitoring the situation on a daily basis. The impact of a natural disaster is greater for those living with a disability - many of whom may face difficulties in escaping floodwater, or in accessing the treatment and rehabilitation services that they need.
Combating the 2011 East Africa food crisis, CBM and partners are distributing food in Kenya, targeting children under five, vulnerable households and schools welcoming children with disabilities. Awareness sessions on nutrition and hygiene are being organised and plans for the coming months being made, including distribution of seeds and training to improve food production.
CBM has commenced support to combat the shortage of food supplies in various schools affected by the food crisis. Food packages will be provided to students to return home with. CBM is also seeking for a long term solution for future improved disaster preparedness.
Purpose: This factsheet provides base level information to practitioners for awareness raising, training, advocacy, project design and proposal writing. The information may be used and sent out widely, with reference to the Kenya Red Cross, The Association of the Physically Disabled of Kenya, CBM and Handicap International.
The overall information in this factsheet is also applicable to older persons and other vulnerable groups.
CBM, with local partner The Leprosy Mission International (TLMI), are aiming to assist more than 2000 people affected by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake which hit Myanmar on 24 March 2011.
The earthquake damage
On 24 March 2011 a devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit north eastern Myanmar. It struck in Tachilek county, Shan province, near Myanmar's borders with China, Thailand and Loas.
In response to the cholera outbreak in
Haiti, CBM has distributed cholera prevention kits and conducted an education
campaign to help prevent the spread of the deadly disease.
The situation in Haiti
Since October 2010, more than 260,000
Haitians have been infected with cholera and more than 4,700 have died.
The World Health Organization expects the outbreak to continue and estimates
the outbreak could affect over 400,000 people before it's over.
On 13th Feb. 2011 the national campaign
'Inclusive education for all children with visual impairment in Palestine'
was launched by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Ramallah
in cooperation with the International Council for Education of People with
Visual Impairment (ICEVI) and CBM.
Objectives of the campaign 'Education
for all'
'Education for All Children with Visual
Impairment' (EFA-VI) is a global campaign and programme of the International
Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) acting in
More than 4000 people have died from cholera
since October 2010, and it is anticipated that the disease will continue
to spread. CBM Haiti is providing education, training and support, including
distribution of 12,000 Cholera Prevention Kits.
The situation in Haiti
To date there have been over 4000 deaths
related to cholera infection in Haiti since the outbreak began in October
2010. The disease is anticipated to continue to spread and the World Health
Organisation (WHO) and Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) estimate
One year ago, on January 12th 2010, Haiti
was struck by an earthquake. Both the immediate and the long-term effects
were enormous. CBM, with 30 years of experience in the country, was involved
in the initial emergency phase, has continued to support partners throughout
the year and is now focusing its efforts into plans for the future.
The effects of the earthquake
A year has passed since a devastating
7.0 earthquake struck Haiti killing an estimated 230,000 people, injuring
another 300,000 and displacing well over a million.
Along with providing the necessities of
life, such as food, water, shelter and medical care, CBM and its local
partners are planning to rebuild the homes, schools and livelihoods of
thousands of flood survivors.
Uncertain future
"We had a good life before the floods.
We had our own business, our own home, land, crops and plenty of food,
but all that is lost now. I'm not sure how long it will be before we can
rebuild, or if we will be able too."
Muhammed Ismial's story isn't unique,
millions of people in Pakistan have lost everything. But his story does
Pakistan's 2010 flooding has affected millions,
but it is those who have disabilities who are often hardest hit. Meer (pictured
below) is one example. Although he contracted polio as a child, he was
self-sufficient before his house and means of income was washed away. He
and his family now live in a temporary camp 600km from home
Before the flooding
Meer is 50 years old. He was diagnosed
with polio at a young age and prior to the recent flooding lived in a house
with 10 members of his extended family in Jacobabad.
