Alert: Congo Update

Hello Friends of ARC -    I want to alert you to the situation in Congo and let you know ARC is responding. It’s chaos in eastern Congo. Violence has erupted, and civilians are yet again paying the price. 400,000 people had already fled their homes since April. But with the escalation in violence and the capture of the provincial capital Goma last week, thousands more are fleeing. To Uganda. To Rwanda. To safer parts of Congo. Congo has been atop the headlines since last week. This is from the front page of yesterday’s New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/world/africa/as-rebels-gain-congo-again-slips-into-chaos.html?hp/ If families stay in their homes, they risk abuse from one or more of the armed groups roaming unopposed – extortion of what little money or resources they have, forced recruitment of men to fight, and rape or murder of men, women and children who resist. Conditions are grim – with food shortages and not nearly enough medical professionals to attend to the injured and sick. In Uganda and Rwanda, ARC is already assisting families who’ve fled by providing shelter, clean water, health care, counseling and other support. We've deployed an emergency  team into Congo - they will quickly assess the situation and begin responding. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more from our team  on the ground. Thank you, -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth President

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Inside ARC - 11.21.12

Hi jay, These bi-weekly insider updates are meant to connect. To connect you to the work that you’re making possible with your support…To connect you to the people you’re helping…To connect you to our team around the world, working on your behalf to help people in desperate need. I hope you feel connected to what you make possible. If there is any way we can improve in this regard, please let me know. And, below is an update on what’s been happening with ARC. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at ARC! -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  *THANK YOU!* Recently, we asked ARC donors to send a message of thanks and support to our aid workers around the world. We received dozens of heartfelt responses. We’re compiling those messages and sending them in a care package to aid workers next week. If you wrote a message, thank you! If you’d like to send a message, just respond to this email and we’ll include your message in the package. Below are just a few of the messages ARC supporters have shared: "I can’t tell you and the others who work with ARC how much I admire and respect all you have done for the children and families you have served.  Your efforts have made a difference in this world and I salute you for it." -Ken "How terrible that people become refugees.  They didn’t want it, but it happened.  How wonderful there are people like you to help them.  Thank you for all the wonderful work that you do." -Ruth "Thank you for doing such difficult work on behalf of all Americans.  I pray for your safety and success." -Carolyn "Thank you for doing the work that I am too old and unwell to do.  You are a special group!  Stay safe." -Marcia "Your work is hard, so you must have strong spirits.  We wish you well and safe in your efforts to care for refugees." -Catherine

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Inside ARC - 11.9.12

Hi jay, Every year at this time I am overwhelmed by the unbelievable generosity and commitment of our neighbors - locally and globally - for humanitarian relief. More than 50% of the critical support we receive each year arrives in our office during the month of December alone. It's truly remarkable to see. And it fills all of us with a deep sense of gratitude.   Thank you so much for helping to make ARC the incredible organization it is today. Sincerely, -Daniel Daniel Wordsworth, President ***********************************************  *DRC Refugees in Rwanda* More than 14,000 refugees from eastern DRC now reside in Kigeme camp (the camp built by the ARC team earlier this year in response to the flood of people seeking refuge in Rwanda).  The team is now moving people out of tents and setting up semi-durable shelters. The team is also putting in place improved drainage systems and reinforced terraces to prevent landslides.  Future plans include planting trees (including fruit trees) and looking at ways to harvest rainwater for use in homes.  Here is an article that describes some of the environmental challenges-ARC staff member Yaya Sidi Sackor is quoted in the article: http://www.arcrelief.org/site/R?i=NLJD6G9q8duzNjWf_BgJUA *Responding in Maban, South Sudan*  Since Fall 2011, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting between the Sudanese military and SPLM-North in Blue Nile State, which lies along the border between Sudan and South Sudan. More than 100,000 refugees have sought safety across the border in Maban County, South Sudan. UNHCR anticipates the number of refugees will likely increase. The ARC team continues to respond to the crisis. *RUN TO UNITE* In late October, ARC's I AM A STAR program hosted "Run to Unite"-a run/walk to unite neighbors to have fun, share Somali culture, and build community in our own neighborhoods-while raising critical funds for lifesaving care in Somalia. The event drew a diverse crowd-young and old alike-of more than 500 runners, walkers...and "cheer-ers".  We ended up reaching our $100,000 goal, thanks to a $50,000 matching gift from Dahabshiil.  You can see a TV story about the Run here: http://www.arcrelief.org/site/R?i=inmcOqJWBrE4Ok2eqn1OGQ . We also created a Facebook photo album, which you can view here: http://www.arcrelief.org/site/R?i=YaPOxiJAPj5MBsAXnOOncw (note:  If you click on an image, you will be directed to a larger image; from there, you can then click through to view all 118 photos on the album). *Giving*    At the request of readers, I always include these links so they’re easy to find when you need them. Thanks so much. Become a Monthly Donor: http://www.ARCrelief.org/givemonthly Donate Online: http://www.ARCrelief.org/donate Give Us a Call: (800) 875-7060 Send in a gift: American Refugee Committee Donor Service Center P.O. Box 1002 Minneapolis, MN 55480-1002 USA

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