· February, 2009

Stories about Humanitarian Response from February, 2009

Bangladesh: Massacre Cannot be Justified

  27 February 2009

“What do you call it when a group of ‘disgruntled’ BDR soldiers [Bangladesh border guards] started their expression of grievances by open-firing on the commissioned army officers? Mutiny? Rebellion? Revolt? Uprising?” asks Kotha-Chilo. The blogger concludes the post with: “BDR soldiers – now I feel ‘disgruntled’ at your massacre. I...

Brunei: Fund drive for flood victims

  25 February 2009

As part of the efforts to collect donations for flood victims, charity drives have been organized in recent weeks in Brunei. The heavy downpour last month caused heavy floods and landslides in the country, affecting homes of more than 200 families, and destroying milllions of dollars in properties and crops.

Sudan: Mourning a Great Novelist and Musings on the ICC

  24 February 2009

After a long absence, a number of fascinating Sudanese bloggers, return to the blogosphere to rant, share their thoughts on recent events and vent. They're included in this roundup along with the usual suspects. After a frustrated rant about Khartoum International Airport's unhygienic condition, Sudanese Optimist mourned the passing of the respected and well-known Sudanese novelist, Al-Tayeb Saleh.

Global: Convoy to Gaza Makes History

  23 February 2009

History was made yesterday in the Maghreb as a convoy headed from the UK to Gaza was allowed to pass through the border between Morocco and Algeria, which has been closed for nearly 15 years. The border closed in 1994 after Morocco suspected Algerian involvement in the attack of a Marrakesh hotel.

China: TV News Broadcasting Suicide

  19 February 2009

Fauna from ChinaSMACK translated a local forum discussion on whether or not it is too inhuman for Shangdong TV channel to broadcast the suicide scene of a young man.

Kenya: Activists Arrested and Beaten

  19 February 2009

Gukira writes about the arrest and beating of Kenyan activists who were standing outside Parliament in Nairobi. They were hoping to plead with government minister to act swiftly to prevent more deaths from starvation.

China: Eluding Cat Kills himself in Jail

  17 February 2009

ESWN translated a local news report about an internet popular term “eluding the cat”. The story is related with the police's statement on the death of a youth in the police station, that he killed himself by accident when playing the game “eluding the cat” with his jail mate.

Ukraine: The Plight of Irina Gavrisheva

  16 February 2009

Jeff Mowatt draws attention to the plight of wheelchair-bound Irina Gavrisheva, who “writes and publishes website appeals and articles about helping sick children of Zaporozhye, on behalf of the Happy Child fund” – and needs money for a surgery herself.

Palestine: A community oven in Gaza

  14 February 2009

Canadian activist Eva Bartlett describes how a community oven has been set up in a village in southeastern Gaza: “For the many villagers who can’t afford, or can’t find, cooking gas and who are exhausting firewood supplies (although the Israeli military’s bulldozing and tank-ravaging of olive and fruit trees provides...

Sudan: Video Declarations on Darfur Genocide by the Perpetrators

  12 February 2009

A video recently released by Aegis Trust shows the testimony of four men who state they actively participated in the violence and massacres on Darfur, and who are not afraid to call it genocide. The video was uploaded on The Hub and it is hoped that people will see it and then pass it on to others in order to spread this information.

Philippines: Dumaguete Flood

  11 February 2009

The roads of Dumaguete suddenly became rivers when heavy rains battered the central Philippine city over the weekend. I Hate My Job shares his account of the flooding along with photos and videos. He also posted more pictures of the destruction left in the flood's aftermath. Meanwhile, Anthology of Snippets...

Myanmar: Three-year cyclone relief plan

  11 February 2009

According to The Irrawaddy, the Tripartite Core Group of Burma has a 3-year recovery and preparedness plan and will seek US $691 million to continue the Cyclone Nargis relief effort. Nargis hit Myanmar last May 2008 which killed and displaced hundreds of thousands in the country.

Thai gov't upset over Angelina Jolie comment on refugees

  11 February 2009

UN Goodwill Ambassador and American actress Angelina Jolie visited a refugee camp in Thailand. Her visit and comments about the state of refugees from Myanmar were criticized by Thailand’s government. What are the views of bloggers in Thailand?

Japan: Homeless

  11 February 2009

Lee from Tokyo Times posts photos of homeless people in the Capital. The blogger comments that the situation will get worse.