| Hi jay, Here's the latest news from our programs around the world. Sincerely, -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President *********************************************** *Further Chaos in DRC/New Arrivals in Rwanda and Uganda* Thousands of Congolese men, women, and children are fleeing from the eastern part of Democratic Republic of Congo to Rwanda and Uganda. They are escaping violence following clashes between the Congolese army and rebel groups. “There are around 3,000 refugees from the DRC at the Nkamira Transit Center at the moment, exceeding the normal capacity of the center, which is around 2,000 refugees,” Yaya Sidi Sackor, acting country director for Rwanda, reported recently. “There is a big possibility that the refugees will eventually move to Nyabiheke Camp (which we manage) in Rwanda. For now, the United Nations refugee agency alongside the World Food Programme and the Rwandan government are distributing food and other essential supplies to the new arrivals. As we currently manage the three main camps (in Rwanda), our expected role will be to host the refugees – to build shelters and help provide other essential services. I have already informed my team in Nyabiheke to be prepared.” *Soda Bottles into Light Bulbs* Here is an excerpt from a blog post by Greg Shaw of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration about a recent trip to visit our programs in Rwanda: “An exciting technology that we have been discussing with the UN refugee agency and ARC involves the introduction of low cost ‘solar light’ bulbs crafted from empty plastic soda bottles inserted into iron sheeted roofs. On any clear day, these solar light bulbs, which cost only a few dollars each to create, refract natural light and channel the equivalent of 55 watts of electrical light into a school, health center, or residential structure. ARC intends to initiate a pilot project to install these solar bulbs in the larger structures in Kiziba refugee camp that we hope will provide low-cost illumination for school children, doctors, and patients. Our continued support to these camps in Rwanda helps improve the lives of refugees until a durable solution to their displacement can be found.” You can read the entire blog post here: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/congolese_refugees_rwanda/ *Two New Programs in North Sudan* Two new programs are starting in North Sudan that will assist about 300,000 people: LIVELIHOODS: One helps women improve their livelihoods by improving animal health and the quality of grazing lands. It will also expand livelihoods options available to pastoralist women. HEALTH CARE: The other helps women and children improve their health. It will support safe motherhood and increase maternal and child health services, strengthen service delivery, and increase access to health and obstetric services in South Darfur. Ongoing insecurity has had a severe impact on the health of women and children in South Darfur. Data from health-care facilities we support indicate that only 21 percent of deliveries are conducted at a facility by skilled personnel, while 43 percent of deliveries are conducted at home by skilled personnel. The region also has low immunization coverage coupled with high rates of under-nutrition and vitamin A deficiency, which make children susceptible to measles. Additionally, only 34 percent of facilities in South Darfur provide routine immunization and have a functional cold chain in place, which ensures vaccines are kept at the appropriate temperature. *Board Member Honored* American Refugee Committee Board Member Perry Witkin was recently honored as an “Alumnus of Notable Achievement” by the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. Perry first connected with ARC in the wake of the 2004 Southeast Asian Tsunami, and has served as a board member since 2005. He also played a key role on the ground, assisting with relief efforts in Haiti (post-earthquake) and in Louisiana, USA (post-Hurricane Katrina). Perry says: “I owe a great deal to ARC as an organization which has embraced me, taught me so much about the importance and value of giving, and allowed me to participate in the incredibly important work that you do.” Here’s an article describing Perry’s honor: http://blog.lib.umn.edu/cla/discoveries/2012/04/cla-recognizes-alumni-of-notab-3.html *Board of Directors Matching Gift Challenge* A special matching gift challenge is on now - through May 22, your gift will be matched 100 percent. A generous group from our board of directors has come together and offered to match all donations up to $37,000. So far nearly $27,000 have been given. That means we have just 5 days to raise the remaining $10,000. If you can, make a gift now! At the request of readers, I always include these links so they’re easy to find when you need them. Thanks so much. Donate Online: http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate Become a Monthly Donor: http://www.ARCrelief.org/givemonthly Give Us a Call: (800) 875-7060 Send in a gift: American Refugee Committee
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