Stories about Humanitarian Response from November, 2008
Kyrgyzstan: A nasty winter ahead
Michael Hancock reports that the situation in Kyrgyzstan is getting worse, with hundreds of thousands of people classed as food insecure and at risk because of electricity and water shortages.
China: Protest and Repression at Earthquake Area, Gansu Longnan
According to mainstream news report, around 30 peasants from Wudu（武都） district Dongjiang（東江） town paid a petition visit to the Longnan（隴南） city committee yesterday (17-18 of Nov), but it ended with police repression. There is little explanation on what had exactly happened as information has been blocked. However, two videos have...
Indonesia: Earthquake displaces thousands
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit north Sulawesi in Indonesia last Monday displacing thousands of residents. A tsunami warning was also issued by the authorities.
The Egyptian Hospital in Bagram
Egypt operates a small military hospital in Bagram, Afghanistan. The Press has just got wind of it - and a blogger wonders why such inspirational stories take a while for mainstream media to report on.
DR Congo: Video call for action
The crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has flared up once again: 10 years of tension, on-and-off warfare and violence have taken their toll on the population, who are being displaced yet one more time. More than 5 million people have died during this warfare, thousands of women have been raped, and thousands of children have been recruited as children soldiers. On the following videos we bring you calls for action from the DRC citizens pleading with us to take a stand to stop the humanitarian crisis in the DRC.
Haiti: Dire Situation
Konbit Pou Ayiti says that “although most of the world has moved on from the tragic stories of the four powerful storms that thrashed Haiti in August and September, Haitians certainly have not. In Gonaives, people are still living on the roofs of homes that are covered in mud. In...
Serbia: Belgrade's Street Dogs
Cafe Turco writes about Belgrade's street dogs and animal rights.
Haiti: Visiting the Victims
Blesh Family in Haiti makes a visit to the General Hospital where some of the victims of the Petionville school collapse were taken: “We are glad we went & it was nice to be able to get the kids to smile but the situation is so devastating. Many of the...
Haiti: School Search & Rescue Ends
The Haitian Blogger attempts “to bring some perspective to the La Promesse school disaster in Petion-Ville”, while Haiti Innovation reports that search and rescue operations have ceased and that “there are no more survivors.”
Bhutan Crowns New King: Refugees Barely Remembered
On November 6th, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan officially crowned a new King, who was appointed almost two years ago. The fifth Dragon King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is an Oxford-educated 28-year-old and the eldest son of the fourth and previous Dragon King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. His coronation...
KarmaTube: Promoting Change through Video Sharing
Karma Tube is an online video sharing platform to spread short videos and their causes through the World Wide Web with tips on what actions the viewer can take regarding the portrayed cause. Through KarmaTube we bring you the following videos of good people doing great things for others: Skateistan from Afghanistan, Seeds of Light from South Africa and Barrios de Paz in Ecuador.
Turkmenistan: A Kingdom for a Horse
Peter comments on the Turkmen president’s sudden enthusiasm for all things horse-related, which has prompted him to sign deals worth dozens of millions to build new racetracks across the country.
Afghanistan: Aid Worker Attacks in Taliban Strategy
Patrick Frost opines why Taliban is targeting and killing/kidnapping foreign and local aid workers against the background of the recent abduction of French volunteer in Afghanistan.
DR Congo: Fighting Continues
As the world celebrated Obama's electoral victory, fighting in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has continued in spite of the ceasefire announced by the CNDP rebel group last week. Displacement, killing and lootings haven't stopped, and while regional African leaders met in Nairobi and the world is wondering how to keep the peace in the country, the Ushahidi software has been deployed to the DRC for documentation purposes.
Haiti: School Collapses
The fact that Haiti didn't need another tragedy didn't stop one from striking. This time, it was a school collapse in Pétionville, which left scores of children dead and countless others injured. Haitian bloggers were quick to offer online empathy and support.
Cuba: Hurricane Paloma
In the latest installment of the chronicles of the 2008 hurricane season, Hurricane Paloma struck Cuba, destroying hundreds of homes in the process and compounding the damage and economic losses the island experienced two short months ago after Hurricane Ike. Bloggers from both Cuba and the diaspora were monitoring the...
Saudi Arabia: Hunger Strike Draws Attention to Jailed Reformers Plight
Saudi Arabia's human rights activists started a two-day hunger strike to draw attention to the plight of 11 reformers and activists languishing in Saudi jails without trial - or access to a lawyer. Read on to find out how social networking site Facebook has been instrumental in informing the world about the struggle.
DR of Congo: Staff Evacuated From War Zone
Latest report from the Democratic Republic of Congo: “Staff of the International Gorilla Conservation Program (IGCP) have been evacuated from DR Congo, as things remain tense between the Congolese army and rebel militia.”
D.R. of Congo: Life at the Ranger Refugee Campa
Description of life in a refugee camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo: “Yesterday afternoon I was at the camp with Diddy, checking on our Rangers and their families. The water situation is now under control, and we have not had another outbreak of cholera since Friday.”
Saudi Arabia: Appeal and Your Sentence is Doubled up!!
Saudi Arabia has sentenced Egyptian doctor Raouf Amin to seven years in prison and 1,500 lashes. What for? Nermeen Edrees brings us the story straight from his wife's mouth - who blogged about it.
