All The World (October 2016)

Emergency Services

SPECIAL ISSUE

Pray for the best Prepare for the worst DISASTER RISK REDUCTION SAVES LIVES

Integrating refugees in ITALY Fighting DROUGHT in Africa

Education priorities in NEPAL OCTOBER–DECEMBER2016 2010 OCTOBER–DECEMBER

VOL 54 48 NO 4

ECUADOR – quake response

CONTENTS

OCTOBER–DECEMBER 2016

Visit ALL THE WORLD at: www.salvationarmy.org/alltheworld

03

UPFRONT From the Editor

04

ECUADOR In it for the long term

06

HOME AND AWAY Thoughts from here and there

08

NEPAL Changing priorities

10

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION Increasing resilience (including reports from BANGLADESH, JAPAN, MALAWI and PAKISTAN)

14

ITALY Integrating refugees

17

VANUATU Using local knowledge

18

ZAMBIA Dealing with drought

20

ZIMBABWE When the rains fail

22

SNAPSHOTS News from around the world

08

FACTFILE Vital statistics about refugees and IDPs

16

04

10

16 18 11 20

20 22

Front page photo: battling through floods in Pakistan

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FROM THE EDITOR

Worth knowing I’VE always had an insatiable appetite for facts. Such was my thirst for knowledge that, apparently, when I was five what I really, really wanted for Christmas was not roller skates, a bicycle, action figures or cars. Oh no, five-year-old Kevin wanted a history book! (Preferably a big one with lots of pages, colourful pictures and a hard cover!)

I loved history (still do!). Mind you, I also loved science and learning how things worked. Actually, right from when I started to read you could give me a book or magazine on pretty much any subject and I would take in facts like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust!

Even today, I get real joy from discovering something new and interesting. I found out this morning that the term ‘maverick’ (an unorthodox or independent-minded person) came from Samuel A. Maverick, a Texan rancher who didn’t brand his cattle but let them roam free!

I particularly like knowing something that goes against common understanding. For instance, it’s often said that 18th-century French military genius Napoleon Bonaparte was very short. In fact, at five feet seven inches he was quite tall for a Frenchman back then.

It just suited his rivals to portray him as somehow inferior.

This pleasure in discovering the unknown and unexpected has a profound effect on my work on All the World. I always tell my writers: ‘If something strikes you as

unusual, innovative or interesting, the likelihood is it will do the same to me – and to my readers.’

This special Emergency Services issue is a great example of presenting ideas and approaches that are not well known. Reports of innovative work in Italy, Nepal and Vanuatu sit alongside more traditional approaches in Africa and South America. But then, how many people are aware of the drought that is sweeping across Africa, brought on by the seven-year El Niño weather cycle?

The worldwide media seems to be very

‘Even today, I get real joy from discovering something new and interesting’

Kevin Sims, Editor

quiet – until the situation gets too bad to ignore, by which time it’s too late to save thousands of people.

The main article is on Disaster Risk Reduction, which seeks to help communities prevent disaster or at least mitigate against its worst effects. Again, this isn’t sensational enough to be newsworthy, but it’s certainly worth knowing.

I have no idea how much you know about Salvation Army emergency relief work. Perhaps you’ve witnessed a mobile canteen giving out food and drinks. Maybe you’ve seen tents with a Salvation Army red shield on the side.

Most people have no idea of the depth and breadth of the Army’s emergency relief ministry. Even fewer, I suspect, would know how long it’s been going on (I’ll leave that as a teaser – but, as a fact-lover, I was amazed!).

So here, over 24 colourful pages of stories that will move and inform, is a learning opportunity. How you take and use the information is, of course, entirely up to you.

I hope it inspires you to action, and that Salvationists reading this will have a growing awareness of the amazing work being done in God’s name and under the Salvation Army banner. And I pray that others – the casual reader, the donor, the government representative, the man or woman who picks up a copy at their local centre or in a cafe – will want to learn more about this incredible, innovative, caring, Christ-driven worldwide movement.

EDITOR Kevin Sims

FOUNDER William Booth

DESIGN AND ARTWORK Berni Georges

GENERAL André Cox

EDITORIAL OFFICE The Salvation Army International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom

COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY Major Brad Halse

© The General of The Salvation Army 2016

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Major Martin Gossauer

Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; fax: [44] (0)20 7332 8079

Published by André Cox, General of The Salvation Army

Email: IHQ-alltheworld@salvationarmy.org

Printed in the UK by Lamport Gilbert Printers Ltd

J UL Y – S E P TE M BE R 2016 | ALL THE WORLD |

3

EMERGENCY

ECUADOR

Article and translation

by Noelia Pintos

‘There with us’

W

HEN a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the north-west coast of Ecuador on Saturday 16 April 2016, Salvation Army response teams leapt into action. The earthquake’s epicentre was between Cojimiez and Pedernales, but the provinces of Esmeraldas, Los Ríos, Manabí, Santa Elena, Guayas and Santo Domingo were also affected. The worst damage was in Pedernales and Manta.

At least 670 people were killed or are still missing, presumed dead, in what was the worst disaster in Ecuador since a 1949 earthquake that killed more than 5,000 people.

Above: Major Fabian Jaime witnesses the destruction in Pedernales after the earthquake; right (from left): SAWSO deployee Major Mike McKee, Luis Zambrano, Divisional Commander Major Samuel Flores and Major Jean Volet from the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory

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As there was no pre-existing Salvation Army presence in Pedernales or Manta, relief efforts were organised from Quito, the capital city, where Ecuador Divisional Headquarters is located. (Ecuador is part of The Salvation Army’s South America West Territory, which also includes Bolivia, Chile and Peru.) From there, officers and volunteers were divided into two groups to organise food distribution in the two cities.

After two weeks, the group from Manta joined their comrades in Pedernales

because the needs were greater there and help was required to run the five kitchens located in different areas of the city.

On first arrival in Pedernales, contact was made with the municipal authorities in order to provide the most appropriate help in the best locations. Initially, a school was assigned to The Salvation Army as a main point from which to organise help. Soon, the work was extended to four more areas.

Luis Zambrano was a municipal worker who lost his house in the earthquake.

He explains what happened when the earthquake struck and how The Salvation Army helped him to recover.

‘On the day of the earthquake I arrived home to take a shower before going to church. I felt a strong shaking and when I went out of the bathroom I saw my mom, who was very scared.

‘She asked me: “Son, if an earthquake comes, what do we have to do?” I told her that we needed to locate a safe place inside the house as outside was not safe.

‘We went to the safe area as the we felt the floor rising up

ECUADOR

Top right: four months after the earthquake, people are doing what they can to get by; above and left: Salvation Army teams provided food and medical care in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake

She asked: “Where would that place be inside the house?” I pointed to four columns located in the entrance; each column separated by one metre, in a square. I finished explaining when the earthquake came and the house starting shaking violently.

‘We went to the safe area as the walls began to fall and we felt the floor rising up as the upper floors came down. I sat with my mom’s head on my chest between my arms as I wanted to protect her in case something fell on us.

‘When the earthquake was over I couldn’t see anything. Dust and debris didn’t allow me to see or move normally.

I left my mom while I tried to look for a way out. When I put my head out of the bathroom window I saw my neighbours’ bodies, crushed by the house’s walls.

We had to step on those same walls to get out.

‘The destruction was incredible! I looked for my dad and my little sister as they were outside when the earthquake

walls began to fall and as the upper floors came down’

came. Thank God, both of them were alive.

‘Even though I work at the municipality, I didn’t know what to do, but The Salvation Army arrived the next day, organised us and orientated us. They set up five kitchens in different areas of the city, providing breakfast, lunch and a snack.

‘As the municipality building had collapsed, we had to turn containers into offices to attend to people’s needs. One of the Salvation Army kitchens was right outside the “temporary municipality”.

Municipal workers had to help people even though many of us lost houses and families, and didn’t have food. The Salvation Army provided for us.

‘Today, my family is living in another city with some relatives as we don’t have a house. My parents are unemployed because they lost their sources of income.

I stayed in Pedernales because I have a stable job that allows me to help my parents and sister. I live with a friend’s family which is a blessing for me.

‘I am grateful for God’s protection and for the help received from The Salvation Army. They not only fed our bodies, but were there with us, providing comfort,

love and a friendly hand in time of need.’

For two months after the disaster, The Salvation Army concentrated its efforts in providing meals to affected people. That ministry also gave the opportunity to share the message of hope and salvation that is the essence of The Salvation Army.

After the immediate response drew to a close and The Salvation Army moved out of Pedernales, conversations began with the mayor about reconstruction projects.

Engineers were engaged to identify the condition of houses.

In August 2016 a team from Ecuador, territorial headquarters, the Salvation Army World Service Office (SAWSO) and the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory visited the area to meet the mayor and see what had been achieved.

Some vital actions had already been taken, like the identification of which houses could be repaired and which would need to be demolished. The government said it will implement a housing project for victims who lost their houses and contribute to the building of small shops to restart local business in Pedernales.

The Salvation Army is planning to be part of the shop construction. It will also provide training for shop owners and workshops on disaster preparedness that will allow local people (volunteers and municipal workers) to be better equipped for the future.

While The Salvation Army is working in Pedernales, it will identify areas where local people can be developed and trained in order to generate their own incomes.

There is much to do in Pedernales, but The Salvation Army has formed deep relationships with people and with the municipality, which is keen to keep working with the Army.

Luis Zambrano recognised that, during difficult times for the people of Pedernales, The Salvation Army was ‘there with us’. As the next stage of the recovery progresses, that won’t change.

Noelia Pintos is Projects Officer in The Salvation Army’s South America West Territory OC TOBE R– DE C E M BE R 2016 | ALL THE WORLD |

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HOME AND AWAY

A SERIES LOOKING AT THE THOUGHTS AND EXPERIENCES OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE SALVATION ARMY IN THEIR COUNTRY OF BIRTH AND OTHERS GIVING SERVICE ABROAD

CAPTAIN HEATHER ROSSOUW SOUTH AFRICA

Captain Heather Rossouw is from South Africa and currently works for The Salvation Army there. She oversees emergency responses in the Southern Africa Territory and was deployed

by International Emergency Services to Nepal in the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake.

Captain Heather Rossouw with children at Ethembeni Home

HOME

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I am the Administrator of Ethembeni Children’s Home (a home for 60 abandoned, abused and HIV-positive children aged from birth to three years) as well as the Territorial Emergency Services Director of the Southern Africa Territory.

What would be your typical day?

Daily tasks include the general administration of the home and dealing with emergencies as they happen.

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

I got to know of The Salvation Army through my husband, Neil, who was a soldier (member) at Goodwood Corps (church) in the Western Cape Division.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

I think my ‘claim to fame’ is being appointed to Ethembeni, as well as being chosen to serve in International Emergency Services deployments.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do ALL this through him who gives me strength’ (New International Version, emphasis added).

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere else, where would you choose and why?

I will go wherever I am needed!

What skills do you use most in your work?

Administration and organisation.

What skills do you have that you would like the opportunity to use more?

I am very blessed to be able to use my skills on a daily basis.

How would you like to be remembered?

I would like to be remembered as a God-fearing woman and a good team member who has given her all to the glory of God. What does The Salvation Army bring to emergency response work?

A sense of humanity and comfort to those who need assistance.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

Our love for God and each other.

What is your favourite Salvation Army song?

Song 959 in The Song Book of The Salvation Army: ‘I’ll go in the strength of the Lord to work he appoints me to do…’

How do you think that working in South Africa differs from working elsewhere?

I personally do not think that it is much different.

What do you like most about South Africa?

I love our diverse culture.

What aspects of another country’s culture do you wish were present in South Africa?

None!

If you were elected General, what would be the first thing you would change?

There is really nothing I would change!

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Heather on secondment in Nepal

&

away

CRAIG ARNOLD ... is a Salvationist from the USA currently living in Belgium, where he is the Vice President (Sales) of the logistics company UPS. He has put his logistics skills and connections to good use when deployed in conjunction with The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services, most notably in Nepal and in Haiti, where UPS technology was used to great effect as part of a feeding programme after the 2010 earthquake.

What would be your typical day?

When I’m deployed with The Salvation Army I work with team members to meet the most pressing basic needs of those impacted by disasters (water, food, shelter, hygiene etc).

How did you meet The Salvation Army?

My parents were officers – I grew up in The Salvation Army.

Do you have a ‘claim to fame’?

Bringing together the logistics capabilities of my employer, UPS, and The Salvation Army in unique ways to help people impacted by disasters.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ (King James 2000 Bible).

What do you like most about working all over the world?

In disaster response every situation is unique – no two disasters are alike. I love finding solutions to problems.

What do you most miss about the USA? My family and friends.

&AWAY

What aspects of a country’s culture would you like to see more of around the world?

People in the USA are, in general, very generous.

Above: Craig Arnold (left) and volunteer Michael Andrew head out by helicopter to a remote community in Nepal; below left: Craig (stood on the back of a truck) oversees food distribution in Nepal

&AWAY

What is your role in The Salvation Army?

I grew up in The Salvation Army. Currently I live in Belgium, where the corps (church) meetings are in French. Unfortunately, I don’t speak French so we only attend The Salvation Army once in a while. I’m involved as a volunteer for large-scale international disaster response.

If you were elected General of The Salvation Army, what would be the first thing you would change?

I couldn’t even imagine ...!

If you could choose to work for The Salvation Army anywhere, where would you choose?

Where there are immediate, urgent, basic human needs.

What skills do you use most in your work?

In disaster response situations I try to call on my experience in supply chain design, network planning and project management to deliver solutions.

How would you like to be remembered?

There are plenty of people, companies and foundations who want to help in disaster situations. Their problem is they don’t know how to help. I would like to be remembered as someone who linked resources to needs in a meaningful way.

What does The Salvation Army bring to emergency relief work?

People. Dedicated, humble, hard-working people.

What’s so special about The Salvation Army?

People in The Salvation Army acknowledge that they have been blessed by God and they give of themselves out of that place of thankfulness.

This is different. This is special.

&AWAY

OCTOBE TOBE R–DE DE EMM BE 2016 ALLTHE THEWORLD WORLD | | OC MR– ON THCC –EM ON BE TH RR 2016 2012 | | ALL

77

RECOVERY

NEPAL

A matter of priorities

D

ust rolled over the front of our vehicle and exploded into dense clouds around us as we moved along a mountain road in rural Nepal. I was travelling with Captain Cathy Crombie and Captain Richard Vanlalnghaka, who are coordinating The Salvation Army’s community projects. Despite our best efforts in keeping all windows firmly shut, a layer of fine silt-like dust crept in and settled on every available surface inside, including us. ‘Make sure you travel in old clothes,’ Captain Richard had told me the day before. Now I knew why.

It was the dry season – hence the dust – but I learned that the road towards Dhuheni village in Sindhupalchok district can be virtually impassable during the monsoon when rain turns it into a thick muddy river. Between thoughts of how I was going to keep my camera lens clean, my mind tried to capture what this area must have been like some months prior to my trip, when the 2015 earthquake struck.

On 25 April 2015, Nepal was hit by a 7.8 Richter-scale earthquake that killed more than 10,600 people. Two weeks later, an aftershock of nearly the same strength caused further damage and fatalities. The country was the 8 | ALL THE WORLD |

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by Ben Gilbert focus of international media while nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies scrambled desperately to start the long and difficult job of helping communities to recover.

The Salvation Army already had people in Nepal, which meant it was one of the first international responders on the scene – quicker even than some agencies that gave the impression they were already at work in the country! Using the Sisters Café (a Salvation Army livelihood project for victims of human trafficking) in Kathmandu as an emergency office and accommodation base for the relief teams, the Army was able to provide essential food supplies and provisions to many remote communities in the weeks that followed.

As well as people’s homes and livelihoods being affected, the earthquake also damaged 24,000 school classrooms, affecting almost one million children.

Above: life goes on – children play football (soccer) in Dhuheni village

In the days that followed the disaster, schools quickly became a centre for government attention as it encouraged relief agencies to provide assistance in building temporary learning centres (TLCs) so children could get back to some form of normality even if their school had been destroyed.

The Salvation Army responded to this need and, through the work of its emergency relief teams, helped to build 18 TLCs in six districts across the affected area. My trip to Nepal included visiting one of these vital centres.

Our vehicle eventually pulled into a large unmarked playing field with eight corrugated-iron classrooms along one edge. This was a government school called Mahindra Priya and the location

‘The concern of the parents was focused mostly on the quality of teaching for their children’

NEPAL

Left: parents explain that quality education is a priority Below left and far left: different views of the school – the destroyed original building and the new temporary learning centre Above: children soon return to their normal way of life

of one of the TLCs that The Salvation Army had built. The structure was solid but made of cheap materials not intended for long-term use.

Some months on from the earthquake it was still functioning as the main classroom and teaching space for 270 children aged from five to 14. The local government is gradually rolling out a project to rebuild all damaged schools, but this is a long process and some remote areas will not have their schools rebuilt for some time.

What remained of the original school building was a vivid reminder of the strength of the earthquake – rubble lay in a mess on the other side of the playing field. Thankfully, no children here were hurt during the earthquake.

We had chosen to visit the TLC at this village in Sindhupalchok because it was a place where the emergency teams had spent a lot of time, overseeing several distributions of food and supplies.

Often these initial relationships with the community that are formed during a time of crisis can be built on when designing

community-based projects for the longer term.

We walked into one of the larger corrugated-iron rooms to find about 40 parents, mainly mothers, who were sat on carpets, talking to teachers from the school. The principal was chairing the meeting and, after some brief introductions to our team, we listened to both parents and teachers raise their concerns and suggestions for the future of their school.

As I listened to the conversation in the room, what surprised me in particular was that the concern of the parents was focused mostly on the quality of teaching for their children and the educational resources available to them. The rebuilding of the school was mentioned, of course, but it wasn’t the main priority.

Mothers spoke of their desire for their children to learn computer skills, for them to have access to clean sanitation in the school and for pre-school children to get more support. They wanted better language tuition in English and Nepali so that when their children were old enough

to get jobs they could compete with an educated workforce.

I was impressed by the teachers’ willingness to listen and respond. Despite having to use hot and stuffy temporary classrooms for their work, they were doing what they could to accommodate the needs of the children.

But one teacher’s comment highlighted their situation: ‘What about us, the teachers?’ he asked. ‘We only have our minds to teach children. We don’t have resources, we don’t have training. We need help too.’ It was an honest comment that has stayed in my mind. The Salvation Army team in Nepal is now planning an education project that can help to address the needs of children and teachers by working in several schools in the district and partnering with a local NGO. Driving back to Kathmandu I reflected on how parents the world over want the very best education for their children, regardless of their own poverty or limitations.

The parents and teachers I met in the remote Nepali village insisted that – despite the havoc that the earthquake caused – the quality of teaching inside the classroom is what matters most (even if the classroom is made of bamboo and tin). It was a valuable reminder that after a disaster we must seek to help people to heal inside, not just deal with the obvious external scars.

Ben Gilbert is Community Development Coordinator (Asia) at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters OC TOBE R– DE C E M BE R 2016 | ALL THE WORLD |

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PREPAREDNESS

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Building resilience

P

by Damaris Frick and Elise Belcher

UTALI lives in a small rural community in Nepal. Her name means ‘butterfly’ and she is one of the 100 people to be selected by her community for reconstruction and repairs to houses – carried out by The Salvation Army and a partner organisation – to put right the damage caused by the earthquake in 2015.

She was selected because of her age – she is more than 50 – and because her husband had left her and married a younger woman some years ago. When talking to us she alternated between crying while recalling the horrors of the earthquakes and the dire situation of losing her house, and laughing.

‘I am so happy now,’ she says. ‘I have somewhere to sleep and now I feel safe.’

Between 2005 and 2015, according to a United Nations (UN) report, ‘disasters have continued to exact a heavy toll and, as a result, the well-being and safety of persons, communities and countries as a whole have been affected. Over 700,000 people have lost their lives,

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over 1.4 million have been injured and approximately 23 million have been made homeless as a result of disasters. Overall, more than 1.5 billion people have been affected by disasters in various ways, with women, children and people in vulnerable situations disproportionately affected. The total economic loss was more than US$1.3 trillion. Disasters, many of which are exacerbated by climate change and which are increasing in frequency and intensity, significantly impede progress towards sustainable development.’

In addition to people affected by disasters there are currently 65.3 million people forcibly displaced by violence and conflict.

We met Irina and her family in Kirovohrad, Ukraine. When the bombs started to fall in their home town of Luhansk they first hid in their building’s cellar. Eventually they decided to flee, leaving everything behind – including their daughter, who was heavily pregnant, and her husband. They arrived in Kirovohrad on a full train with nothing but the shorts and T-shirts they were wearing.

Shortly after the train station in Luhansk was destroyed.

Irina’s 10-year-old son sang us a beautiful song and played table tennis with us at The Salvation Army’s welcome centre. Since the conflict the boy has lost his hearing, which the psychologist treating him says is due to post-traumatic stress. When we asked this young boy about the future he kept repeating: ‘We

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Above: Salvationists in Pakistan; bottom left: Putali, whose house in Nepal was repaired by The Salvation Army

can’t go back. They are shooting! They are shooting!’

Around the world, The Salvation Army is working in and alongside communities that have been affected by hazards, disasters and conflict. In 2015 alone The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services (IES) responded to 41 disaster events in 35 countries by providing financial and/or personnel support.

About 300,000 people received assistance through these activities and on many occasions we witnessed that it is those who are already among the poorest and most vulnerable who suffer the most in emergency situations. The recovery process takes a long time, with International Projects and Development Services (IPDS) partnering with IES to continue intensive redevelopment processes.

Vitally, The Salvation Army’s commitment to emergency response and recovery does not stop its plans to strengthen communities before a disaster strikes, and this area of work is taking on increasing importance. Government policies often recognise that ‘peace, security and good governance are the building blocks of stable, successful communities’ – according to the UK Government’s Department for International Development – and The Salvation Army knows that those elements also build

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

‘It is those who are already among the poorest and most vulnerable who suffer the most in emergency situations’ communities’ ability to respond when an emergency occurs.

So while Salvation Army officers, staff and voluteers will continue to be motivated by their faith to support hundreds of disaster-prone communities, relieving immediate suffering, they must not only address the symptoms but also the causes. It is important to work closely with communities to prevent disasters from occurring, to prepare people to respond to a disaster if one does occur and to minimise the level of damage that disaster causes.

This is known as Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR). It is led by the resources and skills of the communities themselves, not just The Salvation Army’s resources and experience.

DRR deals with prevention, preparedness and mitigation. It focuses on measures that can prevent a disaster from occurring; prepare people to respond to a disaster if one does occur; and minimise or mitigate the level of damage that disaster

causes. There is a number of ways DRR can be implemented, but The Salvation Army’s approach is to enable and empower communities to implement it themselves in partnership with external resources.

In January 2016, IPDS and IES organised a global workshop to promote DRR on community level. Twenty-six people from 22 countries met in Hong Kong to discuss how The Salvation Army could empower communities to become more disaster resilient.

With lively discussions, creative group work, varied presentations and the use of particpatory tools, it proved to be an inspirational and interesting week.

One of the earliest results of the workshop was the identification of a list of 15 criteria that make up a resilient community anywhere in the world.

Increasing these areas of resilience will enable communities to cope better if disaster strikes.

A resilient community is: 1. Positive 2. Peaceful 3. Safe 4. Prepared 5. Aware 6. Knowledgeable 7. Healthy 8. Able to recover 9. Sustainable 10. Resourceful 11. Accountable 12. Unified

Below: discovering progress made at a community meeting in the Democratic Republic of Congo

13. Participatory 14. Connected 15. Inclusive

The conference also fed into the development of a community-based DRR guide for Salvation Army territories or commands and those working with communities in disaster- or conflictprone areas, which is accompanied by many other resources. These have already inspired territories such as Brazil, Malawi and even Sweden and Latvia to consider what resilience means to them and how they can become resilient in their communities.

The picture of the smiling Putali in Nepal shows resilience. The hope is that with the new house and the knowledge she gained, Putali and her community will be better able to cope if there is another disaster.

The young boy in Ukraine may not appear to be resilient at first, but his song suggests otherwise! Irina and her family are trying to settle in a new city, so The Salvation Army is assisting them to make new friends and become part of a community, enabling them to deal with the problems that life will bring. The future for them will, they hope, be safer and more peaceful.

The Salvation Army wants to work with people to build resilient communities where those like Putali and Irina – and many others who are facing disasters and conflict – will be ready and able to deal with whatever happens.

The increased emphasis on Disaster Risk Reduction should mean that, instead of picking up the broken pieces, The Salvation Army can help build resilience in communities and people so they can ride the storms of disaster, demonstrating their own strengths and abilities.

A short film about the DRR criteria can be viewed online at: http://sar.my/drrvideo

Turn to pages 12-13 to read about examples of DRR in action

Damaris Frick is International Emergency Services Field Officer and Elise Belcher is Community Development Coordinator (Africa) at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters OC TOBE R– DE C E M BE R 2016 | ALL THE WORLD |

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DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

Community members join to dig a new canal

BANGLADESH When flooding hit Dumuria Upazila in August 2015, many people lost their main income sources. Dairy farmers could not provide fodder for their cows as the crops were under water. Fish ponds were submerged, meaning that fish escaped.

‘Over time, as the community works together, the impact of disasters will be minimised’

Many farmers had to sell their cows to provide an immediate source of income to meet loan repayments.

Most of the fish farmers were not able to repay loans.

The economic loss felt by community members also impacted their health and their children’s education.

The local authorities, along with non-governmental agencies including The Salvation Army, identified the root cause of the flooding was poor drainage because the canal that flowed through the area had been diverted.

It was decided that the best solution was to dig a new canal. Three hundred people from the community began manually digging the canal, which was slow and hard work. The community came together to ask the local authorities for mechanical support. Two digging machines were provided immediately and, within a week, almost half a kilometre of the canal was created.

The water problem had been solved for at least a year.

The Salvation Army has been working with the communities in Dumuria, encouraging people to identify the cause of problems, work out a feasible solution and resolve the problem together – when necessary, asking for assistance from the local government. The area remains prone to disasters that affect livelihoods but, over time, as the community works together, the impact of disasters will be minimised.

Lieutenant Andrew Lee, Projects Officer, Bangladesh Command

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Relief supplies distribution in Malawi

MALAWI About 6.8 million Malawians – nearly 38 per cent of the population – face food insecurity, making the country one of the worst-hit in southern and eastern Africa.

Madalo Chombo, 91, lives in the beautiful but remote village of Chikutu in northern Malawi. A farmer, she has lived in Chikutu all her life and admits that this year has been one of the most difficult she has ever encountered. She explains: ‘When you go around you can see the desperation of the people in their day-to-day lives.

The conditions are worse than during the 1980s drought. The problems of climate change are worsening every day, and unless the community adapts there will be problems.

DISASTER RISK REDUCTION

‘I want to thank The Salvation Army here for what they are doing.

They have restored our dignity by giving us relief food and with the start of the resilience project our pride will shine again.’

By supporting poor communities to be resilient – for example, by helping farmers to move from traditional crops to ones that can survive with less water – The Salvation Army will make a real difference in years to come. The communities have already established gender-balanced leadership structures to support sustainable growth as they engage in their resilience project.

‘We are ready as a people to take up the leadership role,’ says Madalo. ‘There is hope for us and the future looks bright.’

Captain Mathews Tulombolombo, Project Manager, Water Hygiene and Sanitation (WASH), Malawi Territory

PAKISTAN

In recent years The Salvation Army in Pakistan has focused on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) among communities that are prone to flooding. The projects were aimed at more than 20 communities which were badly hit by floods in 2010.

Some of the communities – all of which were 100 per cent Muslim – were initially uncertain about working with The Salvation Army when they were offered assistance to recover from floods. When The Salvation Army stayed with them, even after the disaster response was completed, they grew to trust their helpers.

Part of the problem was to encourage people to work together instead of only taking care of themselves and their immediate family. One community leader commented: ‘The Salvation Army has taught us how to take care of others in difficult situations ... Now we do it ourselves as we understand this is our responsibility.’

One of the communities lost people and many animals in the 2010 floods, but when the floods returned in 2014 they were ready. The community put in place emergency contact and evacuation plans and even built large banks along the river to protect their homes. Together, they got everyone – even the most vulnerable – to safe places. This time, no one was killed.

The community members say that their lives have been changed. They now have confidence in themselves to work together to face any type of situation.

George William, Programme Manager, Community Development and Emergency Services, Pakistan Territory

The community now ensures that vulnerable people get to safety during floods

JAPAN In 2011, a major earthquake triggered a tsunami in Japan which killed thousands of people. The Salvation Army responded quickly and provided support where needed.

It was soon realised that, in order to plan better for future disasters, recovery projects needed to incorporate preparedness and mitigation activities.

One of the projects that was implemented as part of this approach included the building of emergency storage facilities filled with bedding and non-perishable food for schools so children and teachers could stay overnight if necessary.

Another project included the building of an evacuation ramp for a nursery.

This was put in place after the emergency team discovered that, following the 2011 earthquake, children from a neighbouring primary school had to literally drag tiny children up the hill behind their nursery before the tsunami covered the building. If a similar disaster strikes, the small children will now be able to climb the hill to safety.

A ramp (top) and food store (below) will help keep children safe in the event of another tsunami

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FACTFILE

N The United Nations (UN) makes a clear differentiation between refugees and IDPs (internally displaced persons) – although many mainstream media reports use ‘refugees’ for both groups.

Refugees are people who are outside the country of their nationality ‘owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted’ – according to the 1951 Refugee Convention.

REFUGEES AND IDPs • A total of 65.3 million people were displaced at the end of 2015, a rise of 5.8 million (almost 10 per cent) on the 2014 figures.

• On average, 24 people were forced to flee every minute in 2015 – four times more than a decade earlier.

• Three countries produce half the world’s refugees – Syria (4.9 million), Afghanistan (2.7 million) and Somalia (1.1 million).

• The three largest numbers of IDPs are found in Colombia (6.9 million), Syria (6.6 million) and Iraq (4.4 million).

• Around 86 per cent of refugees under the mandate of the United

Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2015 were in low- and middle-income countries close to situations of conflict.

• Turkey hosted the most refugees (2.5 million) – just over three per cent of the entire population.

• Lebanon hosted one refugee for every five citizens – more refugees per capita than any other country.

• Children made up an astonishing 51 per cent of the world’s

refugees in 2015, according to data gathered by UNHCR. Many were separated from their parents or travelling alone.

Top: bedding distribution in Pakistan; left: a South Sudanese refugee and his grandson in Uganda

The cost in human life continues to grow, with 3,164 people known to be dead or missing in the first eight

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THE SALVATION ARMY’S REFUGEE AND IDP MINISTRY

The first refugee response undertaken by The Salvation Army took place in 1895-96, when – according to the offical history – Armenian refugees were ‘given shelter in both the United Kingdom and the United States of America’.

The International Emergency Services section of The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London began life on 28 March 1996 as Emergency and Refugee Services.

In the past decade, The Salvation Army has provided assistance to refugees in: • Greece, Italy and most other European countries (from Syria, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somalia, Eritrea and other countries – see http://sar.my/europerefugees for more information) • Rwanda (from Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi) • Uganda (from Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and South Sudan) • Jordan (from Syria) • Democratic Republic of Congo and Republic of Congo (from Central African Republic).

Assistance has also been provided to IDPs in: • Mali (conflict in the north) • Democratic Republic of Congo (conflict in the east) • Pakistan (conflict in the SWAT valley and attacks on minority religious groups) • Nigeria (Boko Haram activities in the north).

The Salvation Army’s response to genocide and displacement in Rwanda in 1994 led to the opening of permanent ministry the following year.

Above: helping Syrian refugees in Jordan

Refugees from north Africa and the Middle East continue to seek new lives in Europe. From 1 January to 23 August 2016, 269,244 people had arrived in Europe by sea, compared to 1,011,712 arrivals during 2015.

IDPs have fled their homes but have not crossed an international frontier.

months of 2016, compared to 3,673 dead or missing in the whole of 2015.

If the flow of people continues at the same rate through to the end of 2016, the number of people arriving will have fallen by 60 per cent but the number of people losing their lives or going missing will have risen by almost 30 per cent.

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In Iraq, the 2003 response to people affected by war and displacement led to the formation – by Iraqis – of the Iraqi Salvation Humanitarian Organisation, a non-governmental organisation that maintains links with The Salvation Army.

When the oversight of work in Iraq moved to Kuwait, links were quickly made with Salvationists from countries such as India and The Philippines who were working in the country. This led to the opening of Salvation Army work in Kuwait in 2008, which has grown into the Middle East Region, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

Salvation Army work in Bangladesh began in 1972 with the provision of housing, medical care and clothing following a devastating civil war that left millions dead and millions more destitute.

ITALY

REFUGEES An oasis of care in the desert of despair REFUGEE CENTRE PUTS FOCUS ON SUPPORT AND INTEGRATION

J

by Lieut-Colonel Massimo Tursi

EAN is a young man from subSaharan Africa. Desperation was the trigger that brought him to face the hardship of his ‘hope journey’ to Europe. His family is poor; he watched his father die because there was no money for routine surgery.

Jean was himself restricted by a physical problem.

His journey brought him to Lampedusa, an island between Libya and Sicily, then for a few days to a registration centre in the south of Italy.

After that, together with more than 20 other travelling companions, he was driven to Atena Lucana, to start a new life at The Salvation Army’s ‘l’Uliveto’ centre for refugees.

Above: a craft activity at l‘Uliveto

One of his compatriots speaks of the horror of the journey through the desert.

He had become acquainted with one of his travelling companions who became ill during the many days of walking and hiding, with little food and constant fear.

One evening, after a very long, stressful day, he laid down to rest and slept many hours into the next day. When he woke up, his friend had died – starved to death with nothing to be done to help.

These are just two of the stories that were shared – very cautiously – with staff at l’Uliveto who had gained the trust of their guests. The first 25 arrived in November 2015, then 19 more and today about 60 young men have a temporary home at the Salvation Army centre.

Shortly after arriving, Jean’s physical condition worsened and he had to be taken to hospital, where he underwent an operation. Several days later, he was

released from hospital, finally free of any restriction, and asked to share his experience during the weekly ‘assembly’ meeting at the centre.

While he was in hospital, word had reached Jean that a group of residents had complained about the lack of bottled water. He addressed the people who had been complaining, reminding them of the situation they had left behind – the kilometres they had to walk to get water for their families. No one had been interested in them, he said, ‘but … mama Teresa [one of the Salvation Army workers at the project] travelled all the way to come and visit me in hospital every day, remaining at my side.’

Nine months of communal living has become a time to put together the pieces of their existence in an attempt to build a future. Through the months they have been learning Italian and getting to grips with the local culture, but they have also found time for fun and fellowship with the other residents and with the people of the village in which they live.

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ITALY

Above: a resident heads to work on his bicycle Above right: washing cars to earn money Left: learning catering skills

They have learned about a completely different culinary culture, but have begun to understand the possibility of influencing it with the flavours of their different cultures of origin.

They have also spent nine months working their way through the meandering bureaucracy and legal forms of refuge applications, meeting with The Salvation Army’s legal consultant for this project and developing their own skills.

Capacity building was started as a means of engaging The Salvation Army’s guests in activities so that not too many hours were spent in idleness!

Participation in football and judo clubs in a nearby village has become a regular highlight in the lives of these young men.

A music workshop, where different traditions, knowledge, hopes and frustrations were shared and transformed into rhythms, resulted in the creation of Carateno Edo Music Mix – an 11-man percussion group that performs away from the centre.

Dickson, an evangelical Christian, was in the first group of 25 from central Africa to become a guest at the newlyrefurbished centre. He joined a group 16 | ALL THE WORLD |

of 20 people who participated in the The Salvation Army’s Italy and Greece Command’s Ascension Day gathering in southern Italy, performing a colourful dance of praise to the Lord, accompanied by bongos and clapping.

Another man who underwent a dramatic ‘journey of hope’ through the desert to the coast of north Africa is now one of the dozen guests at the refugee centre who regularly attend Sunday worship at the local Salvation Army corps (church). He testifies to the renewed hope and joy he has found through having a new spiritual family.

Keeping in mind future integration, activities were tailored to personal aptitudes. It was a significant investment both on the part of staff and guests, based on a conviction that real integration depended on the ability to contribute to social and professional life.

The hope that refugee status would be granted also needed to be accompanied by the real awareness of a possible rejection and consequent repatriation; the residents at Atena Lucana had to be prepared for possible future back home.

Hence, a series of training projects was

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advertised in the region and sponsors were sought.

Eighteen guests were registered for a weekly course at a local hotelmanagement school. The project attracted the attention of the Volunteer Association of the Chamber of Deputies of the national parliament, which financed the costs of a course that goes far beyond the simple acquisition of skills, but aims at supporting people to build self-esteem and trust in their own abilities, helping to ensure that they do not fall into the hands of those who may seek to exploit them.

Another group of five will soon be trained as pizza bakers – a vital profession in Italy! Eight residents have already found temporary or long-term employment.

Atena Lucana’s inhabitants are not surprised anymore when they see, at six in the morning, residents from l’Uliveto riding their donated bikes through the streets. They are hurrying to work but also speeding towards their personal target to integrate and build a new life.

The regional government is impressed by the Salvation Army centre, using it as an example of good practice and as a model for other groups and associations that intend to provide accommodation to asylum seekers.

The project is well into its ninth month and a new agreement has been signed for the next year. Assistance and care will continue to be offered to refugees, both Christians and Muslims – and also those who have are initially refused refugee status and have to reapply – as they move into the real world beyond l’Uliveto. All of the centre’s guests will be encouraged to remain in contact with The Salvation Army, where they find a listening ear – a metaphorical oasis in the desert.

The Salvation Army’s offer of care will continue as a sign of God’s love and a service in his name.

Lieut-Colonel Massimo Tursi is Officer Commanding of The Salvation Army’s Italy and Greece Command

VANUATU

COMMUNITY A worldwide support network

by Major Darren Elsley Above: William and Lilyrose Sarilobani with community members who have been helped by The Salvation Army

When William and Lilyrose Sarilobani were enrolled as Vanuatu’s first Salvation Army soldiers (members) in March 2014, they would never have imagined that 12 months later they would be an essential part of The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services response to the most powerful cyclone ever to hit the south Pacific

T

ROPICAL Cyclone Pam struck Vanuatu’s islands as an extremely destructive category 5 cyclone in March 2015. Winds were estimated to have reached approximately 250 kilometres per hour, with gusts peaking at around 320 kph, causing damage to infrastructure, impacting services, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless and scattering debris across the oncebeautiful tropical islands.

The Salvation Army was quick to respond. Within a week, International Emergency Services team members from as far away as London and Brussels were on the ground.

New soldiers William and Lilyrose were literally a ‘Godsend’ to the team.

Their local knowledge and interpreting skills, coupled with hearts of compassion for brothers and sisters in need, were valuable assets to the emergency team.

They provided their property – where a Salvation Army outpost meets – as a makeshift command centre and William

gave up his regular job as a bus driver in order to become the team’s driver and interpreter.

Across four islands of the Vanuatu archipelago, the team’s initial response was to provide the essentials of food, water and temporary shelter (tarpaulins and blankets) to those who had been left without access to basics. On the island of Tanna, team members trekked into the mountains with six kilometres of piping to restore the essential spring water supply to the villages below.

The distribution of food, hygiene kits, cooking sets, seeds for crops, water containers, tarpaulins and blankets continued as more people in need were identified.

The Salvation Army also initiated a school feeding programme. Daily meals were provided at two schools which encouraged students to return to education after the cyclone.

Another important project was to assist 200 families in a remote area whose livelihoods had been affected by Cyclone

Pam through the loss of their fishing boats – the primary source of food and industry. The Salvation Army provided three fishing boats, equipped with fishing gear and solar-powered freezers. As an added benefit, the provision of the boats re-established water-borne transport for the villagers to emergency and general health care facilities.

As the response progressed, further projects included building 90 houses with water tanks for families left homeless after the cyclone, rebuilding a preschool and replacing other essential school structures.

William and Lilyrose were exposed to the bonds of fellowship and care that come about through the internationalism of The Salvation Army. Emergency team members came from far and wide, including from the UK, USA, Australia, South Korea and Malaysia.

But the international team would have been far less effective without the local knowledge that William and Lilyrose provided. Only a year after becoming soldiers, they now understand clearly why God needed them in his Army.

When not on deployment with International Emergency Services, Major Darren Elsley serves in the Australia Eastern Territory

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DROUGHT

ZAMBIA

I

COME from a country that has faced many natural disasters, including drought. Drought is part of life in Australia, which the poet Dorothea MacKellar famously described as ‘a land of drought and flooding plains’.

I have lived in cities where we had water restrictions of varying degrees. For farmers and rural communities this is an ongoing issue and drought mitigation is something that is worked on all the time.

Drought is insidious in nature as it comes on gradually. It is not like other natural disasters that have an end, like a cyclone, which is there for a short time before recovery can happen. Droughts can go on for many years and there is no guarantee when the next rains will come.

Recently I visited Zambia, which is one of the countries in southern Africa that is currently afflicted by drought.

Zambia is a landlocked country with a population of 13.7 million people.

More than half the population relies on agriculture for income and food, with 65 per cent of women being employed (either formally or informally) in the agriculture sector. As a result, women are most affected by the current drought situation, with the southern and western parts of Zambia worst hit.

During the past 10 years the rainy seasons have been sporadic, with some very good rainfall and other times of little or no rain. For the past three years in particular there has been inadequate rainfall and, as a result, there is food insecurity. People are suffering as they have not been able to grow crops which they rely on for food. Animals also suffer, with their condition deteriorating due to inadequate food and water. This also adds to the issues for farmers and the whole agriculture sector within the country.

In Zambia the rainy season comes in November, December and January.

During other times of the year it is dry Above: Charity makes a meal from supplies provided by The Salvation Army

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A new understanding of drought

by Major Elizabeth Garland

and there is little or no rain. Early in 2016 there was some rain – though not at the usual time – so some farmers planted crops. But, since there was no follow-up rain, the crops shrivelled and died. Other crops started to grow but there was no harvest as there was not enough rain for the plants to grow to their full potential.

The problem with drought is that you never know when it will break. If it rains once there is hope that the drought is over and it will rain again – but this is not always the case.

Another result of the drought is that there is now a plague of locusts. If there was the normal rainfall, then the locusts would not hatch, but since it is dry they

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are multiplying and devouring what little crops are growing, which is adding to the problem.

The Salvation Army works in communities that have been affected by the current drought situation. On a visit to Zambia I was taken to a corps (church) in the Svonga region where The Salvation Army has worked with the local community and government to distribute food to those most affected.

We met with the local corps officers, Lieutenants Sikoongo, divisional staff, community elders and government officials who were involved in the distribution of food in the community. The local officers work with the community

ZAMBIA

Above: Salvation Army team members are shown the fields of dead and dying crops

elders and government to assess which people are most in need.

Basic items of food such as mealie meal (maize), salt, oil and beans were distributed as a stop-gap. They would not last the whole year, so food insecurity will continue. However, The Salvation Army, in conjunction with the local provincial government, plans to distribute more food supplies to this region.

On the visit we were taken to a village where a number of families live.

We were shown empty storage huts and the fields where crops were grown. One

‘The villagers had some supplies, but you could see on their faces the stress of not knowing what would happen after these had gone’

of the fields we were shown belonged to Charity and her family.

Charity has six children to look after, but the crops in her fields were dying as a result of no follow-up rain. The villagers had some supplies, but you could see on their faces the stress of not knowing what would happen after these had gone.

The officers and community members mentioned that there have been increased health issues and that some children have been staying away from school as a result of the drought.

The community – assisted by The Salvation Army and the local government – is looking at ways to mitigate the effects of drought. This is important as the community and government (both provincial and national) have come to the realisation that rainfall patterns are now different due to climate change. There is the possibility of ongoing drought within the region that will impact the country in varying degrees.

I came away from the visit with a different perspective of drought. Even though I have been affected by drought I have never had the situation where I have not had access to water and food. Where I come from, resources that are necessary for living are available and I do not have to wonder where my next meal or drink of water will come from. This, however, is a daily experience for the community we visited.

The Salvation Army cannot bring the rains but – in a small but vital way – it is helping to assist those who are suffering as a result of a drought of which no one can see the end.

Major Elizabeth Garland is Impact Measurement Learning Coordinator at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters

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DROUGHT

ZIMBABWE

A brutal reality

M

AKING a visit to a community in Chivi District of Zimbabwe’s Masvingo Province, we enter the compound of Chikambure Dadira, who lives with four grandchildren. One of them – Abigail – has special needs.

Chikambure invites us to sit in the shade of a tree in front of her small house made of mud bricks with a round, thatched roof. Hearing the noise of visitors, Abigail crawls out of the hut.

She wants to be part of the gathering.

She cannot speak but greets us with her beautiful smile.

Chikambure neither provides information about her daughter-inlaw nor explains the reason for the disappearance of her son.

Her daily reality, the feeding of five mouths, has become a nightmare since the failure of the rains that should have arrived between October 2015 and March 2016. Her maize harvest was planted in time but failed completely.

Three chickens roam the compound, but they do not produce enough eggs to feed the entire household. In the month before we visited she received 50 kilos of maize from the government through the Chivi District drought committee.

Although she is grateful for the maize she has no other resources. There is no money to pay school fees for her granddaughter, Poshi, so the girl stays at home instead of continuing her education.

For the past two years there was hardly any harvest for Chikambure or the other villagers. The boreholes do not produce

‘Children are kept home because their empty stomachs do not allow them to concentrate in the classrooms’ 20 | ALL THE WORLD |

by Major Coby de Ligt-Oosterheerd

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enough water and it is a real challenge for people who have animals to keep them alive as well as to fulfil their own need for water. We listen to the story of this vulnerable family and feel for them. How, we wonder, can The Salvation Army help these people and reach out to so many others who face similar circumstances?

We thank Chikambure for her willingness to share her story. We are grateful for her honesty and hospitality.

When saying our goodbyes I realise she could not meet the African hospitality rule that visitors may not leave a house without eating. Probably she feels uncomfortable that she has no food to offer but I am glad we did not deplete the ration she has for her grandchildren.

Upon reaching our car we give her some bottles of drinking water – the least we can do for this needy family.

The El Niño-related drought is causing poor and vulnerable people in Zimbabwe to face hunger and hardship for a second consecutive year. The excessively dry conditions will result in extensive crop

ZIMBABWE

Opposite page: Salvation Army team members meet with Chikambure Dadira outside her hut Right and far right: the signs of drought are clear; below Major Coby de Ligt-Oosterheerd (left) and Salvation Army team members meet with the community in Nyamuzuwe

failure, with serious consequences that will persist until at least the next harvest in March 2017. Already, at least 2.8 million Zimbabweans face food insecurity.

In February 2016 the Government of Zimbabwe declared the current drought a national disaster, opening the doors for donors and development partners to respond to the most pressing needs.

Salvation Army divisional and district leaders approached the leaders of The Salvation Army’s Zimbabwe Territory to find ways to help the neediest people.

In consultation with International Emergency Services (IES) in London, a drought relief project was developed which will provide food items for 700 families in five drought-affected districts, through a project generously funded by the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory.

Support visits have been made to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi to assess the drought situation and come up with a plan of how The Salvation Army can respond in southern Africa.

The reason for my journey to Zimbabwe is far from pleasant, but I feel privileged to visit Africa again after five years. Love for Africa is still in my heart.

There is a desire to meet the people again, to touch the red soil, to sense the dry heat and inhale the typical African scents, to enjoy melodious singing and join in the dancing!

Looking out of the car on our way to Nyamuzuwe in Murehwa District, my fellow IES representative Damaris Frick and I – accompanied by local Salvation Army leaders – are confronted by the depressing sight of withered fields.

Everywhere there are yellow or brown stalks of maize and sorghum that did not make it to harvest. There is a story of suffering behind each withered field – people whose hopes were raised when rain came. They planted for a second time, only to discover that the ‘showers of blessing’ stopped after a few days and their crops died once more.

Upon arrival at Nyamuzuwe we are invited to visit the retired District

Partition Officer, Oliver Zisengwe, and his wife Sarah. We learn that people could not harvest maize, sorghum or groundnuts. The yield of their vegetable gardens is poor, so potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers are scarce. People who have some animals struggle to keep them alive. The two boreholes in the village do not supply enough water for the animals and their owners.

Under a tree in the centre of Nyamuzuwe, Chitetere Akisebia, Agricultural Extension Officer for this area, employed by the Ministry of Agriculture, confirms what we were told.

She says that, in a good year with sufficient rainfall, the villagers can harvest enough maize for their household consumption and to generate additional income for expenses like paying school fees. Now, children are kept home because their empty stomachs do not allow them to concentrate in the classrooms.

As we talk, the circle of people under the tree expands. Women add their own sad stories that they have to feed many mouths (five to seven children per family is common) but they do not have enough food to do so. We finish the meeting and proceed to three different fields. All look miserable; withered crops can only be used to feed the remaining cattle.

We do not need to see more fields.

We do not need to hear more similar stories. We are convinced that something should be done to help these droughtaffected people to survive! Now it is up to us to go back home and find more donors like the Switzerland, Austria and Hungary Territory. We have the network of people in place – we just need more funds!

Major Coby de Ligt-Oosterheerd is Programme Officer for The Salvation Army’s International Emergency Services

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COUNTRY OR THEME

SNAPSHOTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

UNITED KINGDOM

Early-day emergencies 5,500 lives in the poverty-stricken East End of London.

Emergency relief work is far from a recent ministry for The Salvation Army.

According to official historian Robert Sandall: ‘The Mission distributed food and clothing, opened soupkitchens and provided free teas.’ He also reveals: ‘“Maternal societies” which found “poor mothers with scarcely a rag of clothing for either themselves or their babies” were put into operation.’

Volume one of the Army’s official history reports that, only a year after William Booth founded what was then called the East London Christian Mission, the fledgling movement assisted with the fight against a cholera epidemic in 1866 that claimed more than

‘The Mission distributed food and clothing, opened soup-kitchens and provided free teas’

NORWAY

Saving souls on the seas It may not have used the phrase Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR – see pages 10-13), but more than a century ago The Salvation Army was putting into place innovative and effective DRR measures off the coast of the Norwegian counties of Nordland and Finnmark.

‘During the thirteen years the first skipper (Captain Emil Oveson) was in charge, 99 men were rescued from boats that were lost, and 1,772 boats with crews of about 5,000 were towed to safety.

‘The War Cry of 18 April 1925 announced that in recognition of this service the Order of the Founder [The Salvation Army’s highest honour] had been bestowed upon the captain.’

Volume three of The History of The Salvation Army, published in 1955, reports: ‘At the end of the [19th] century, Commissioner Hanna Ouchterlony, Norway’s Army leader, visited Nordland and Finnmark during a season of shipwreck and loss of life.

She was much moved by contact with the widowed and orphaned.

‘Some lifeboats there were in those days, but not nearly so many nor so efficient as now. The fishing boats in use were also far less seaworthy.

‘An order for a lifeboat was placed by the Army with the best builder of the country and in February 1900 the Catherine Booth was launched [see picture, right].

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‘An order for a lifeboat was placed by the Army with the best builder of the country’

SNAPSHOTS

CANADA

Fighting fire effects On 1 May 2016, a wildfire started outside of Fort McMurray, a small city in Alberta, Canada. Within two days the fire had spread so rapidly that authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order, forcing the community’s 90,000 residents to flee their homes and livelihoods.

The Salvation Army’s Emergency and Disaster Services (EDS) was on the frontline, serving up to 2,000 meals a day to firefighters, police and other first responders. In addition, EDS personnel provided emotional and spiritual care such as a listening ear to those tasked with combatting the fire and ensuring public safety.

programmes have all reopened and are operating at full capacity due to the increased demand from displaced families. About 25 per cent of the community lost their homes due to the fire, including a number of Salvationists.

‘For people whose homes burned to the ground, they are really in need of a safe place to come and talk,’ says Major Marina Jennings, a Salvation Army officer (minister) based in Fort McMurray. ‘We’ve been able to provide support and comfort.’

John McAlister, National Director of Marketing and Communications, Canada and Bermuda Territory

Above: Salvation Army EDS personnel receive a shipment of food supplies delivered by Canadian Armed Forces Below: Major Brian Beveridge serves food from one of The Salvation Army’s community response units

The Salvation Army also supported evacuees who relocated to other areas of the province with practical, emotional and spiritual assistance.

This included the distribution of food, clothing, hygiene kits and other items to help Fort McMurray residents with their immediate and pressing needs.

Once evacuees were allowed to re-enter their homes a month later, The Salvation Army was present to welcome residents home. About 110 Salvation Army employees and 100 volunteers worked tirelessly over the course of the evacuation and re-entry.

Since re-entry, The Salvation Army’s corps (church), thrift store, emergency shelter and community outreach

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