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Hope Amidst Indonesia's Woes
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Student demonstrations and rioting in early November were followed recently by the torching of churches and mosques in Jakarta and West Timor. While these incidents erode an already fragile social and religious harmony in Indonesia, World Vision remains firm in its resolve to build up communities and families.
Indonesia's 200 million people have endured a difficult year: El Nino conditions led to a failed rice harvest; political upheaval resulted in the departure of President Suharto; and the Asian economic crisis led to widespread poverty and hunger.
Today, nearly 60 percent of the country's workforce are unemployed (including the informal economy, such as street vendors and fish farmers). By the end of 1998, it is expected that the number of people living below the poverty line will have tripled.
Contributing to the crisis is the fact that many of these people are the "new poor"--hard-working vendors and factory workers now living in poverty.
World Vision is committed to helping families like these. Through sponsorship of more than 50,000 children, World Vision eases the economic hardship felt in many communities. Child-ren are able to stay in school and village credit unions are being formed to lend money to families starting small businesses.
World Vision also operates a network of seven relief projects that target more than 25,000 households affected by this year's drought and economic crisis.
One of the relief projects is a food-for-work program in Jakarta. More than 3,000 families help maintain community structures such as health posts, canals, parks, and sewers in exchange for food. Each participant receives 6.5 pounds of rice in exchange for five hours of labor. More than 1,500 tons of food is expected to be distributed through this project.
Largest Overland Food Distribution Underway in Southern Sudan
Last week World Vision began the biggest overland operation ever undertaken to bring relief food supplies to Sudan's Bahr el Ghazal province.
During the next several months, World Vision plans to transport 12,100 tons of food from Mombasa, Kenya, to famine-hit Tonj and Gogrial counties in the troubled province.
More than 60 trucks will take part in the USAID-funded operation, hauling the food nearly 1,900 miles, many of which are through tough, jungle terrain.
"Our aim is to eliminate famine in Tonj and Gogrial next year," said World Vision Sudan program director Bruce Menser.
In addition to shipping in US grain, World Vision will purchase 1,100 tons of grain from Sudanese farmers in fertile areas to boost the relief effort to 13,200 tons.
630,000 Rwandans Squeeze into 12 Government Camps
RUHENGERI, Rwanda - As a means of protecting families from fighting between rebels and the army, the Rwandan government instructed people in northwest Rwanda to gather in pre-selected areas earlier this year. The 630,000 Rwandans who have crowded into the 12 government camps feel protected from the rebel fighting, but spiraling health and sanitation conditions at the camps may be putting their lives in greater danger.
Food, water, shelter, medical care, and toilets are all lacking, contributing to the spread of disease.
To help prevent what may escalate into yet another humanitarian tragedy in Rwanda, World Vision is responding to the immediate relief needs in the camps.
On November 30, World Vision gave 770 survival kits and 6,800 blankets to the neediest families in two of the camps. At a third camp, World Vision provided improved shelter for 245 families. Plans to quickly launch a health and nutrition project are already underway.
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