PHOTO: ADH/Florian Kopp e-vision - Issue 11 - July 2009     THIS ISSUE     Kiwis Make it Count With education comes freedom Taliban in Pakistan Southern Sudan Visit to Refugees Hospitality that hurts     Kiwi dollars help DRC refugees in Southern Sudan In October 2008, generous Kiwi supporters donated more than $260,000 in response to a World Vision New Zealand (WVNZ) appeal to assist thousands of people affected by ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). With World Refugee Day having been observed on June 20, Bonnie Jackson and Rosemarie Harris, two WVNZ staff members who recently returned from a visit to Makpandu settlement in Southern Sudan, share how Kiwi dollars are being put to good use to help DRC refugees and internally displaced Sudanese. Since October 2008, approximately 73,000 people, including refugees from DRC and internally displaced people, have been seeking refuge from rebel groups, including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). According to Bonnie Jackson, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Team Leader at WVNZ, the UNHCR has extended an agreement with World Vision for another six months during which World Vision Southern Sudan (WVSS) will provide community services support, and distribute food and non-food items such as tarpaulins, soap and blankets to Congolese refugees at the Makpandu settlement and other areas. Protection of children “Many of the refugees have been through harrowing experiences: women have reported sexual abuse, refugees have not eaten properly or had any medical care, and children and the elderly are extremely vulnerable,” says Rosemarie Harris, WVNZ HEA Administrator. Furthermore, poor infrastructure, insecurity and heavy rains with the onset of the rainy season pose significant challenges to the delivery of humanitarian aid. “At Makpandu, WVSS has helped refugees establish a refugee forum, a children’s committee, and a peace and protection committee where issues of concern can be brought to the fore and addressed. Adults and children are educated about human and children’s rights, and vulnerable groups identified such as unaccompanied minors and female-headed households,” explains Rosemarie. Apart from assisting people with shelter and food, World Vision staff also provide informal education to children help with the care of sick people and the purchasing of basic medical supplies, as the hospital in Yambio is under resourced distribute safe delivery kits to pregnant women, and supply tools and seeds for the small-scale planting of food crops. Greatly encouraging is the fact that the New Zealand donations are going a long way to bring hope to people in desperate need as the UNHCR matches every NZ$1 with NZ$10.     www.worldvision.org.nz nzcommunications@worldvision.org.nz World Vision New Zealand Private Bag 92 078 Auckland New Zealand CALL NOW: 0800 800 776 Make a Donation | Sponsor a Child