CWS News

West Timor, part of East Nusa Tenggara Province, is highly prone to natural disaster, especially drought. Severe prolonged drought has significantly dropped crop yield. A research shows that food availability at the household level was mostly relied on the harvest of one planting season during rainy season for the whole year. This has led to food insecurity at the household level and thus reduced food consumption, wearing down the nutrition and health status of its people. West Timor, especially Timor Tengah Selatan District, always had a very high number of undernourished children.

Bogor - Puri Avia hall is packed with people wearing a t-shirt with a message "Getting to Zero". The message on the t-shirt is the 2011 WAD theme, which translates into three goals expected to be achieved by 2015: zero new HIV infection, zero AIDS-related death, and zero discrimination.

Cipayung - Millions of women throughout the world have become victims of many kinds of violence such as domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment, torture and abuse of women prisoners, or violence in armed conflict that often lead to trauma, physical handicapped, and even death. In war and conflict, women and girls are the most vulnerable groups; they can be victims of rape that is used by soldiers as a weapon of war to subjugate a community. At home, they often deal with physically aggressive partner or relatives. In many communities, issues pertaining to family life are considered private and beyond public authorities' purview. Should dispute and disturbances arise, they would be best kept within the family. To seek outside help would be an act of disobedience. Those seeking protection therefore are often offered no alternative but to return to the abuser and continue being victimized.

Two major eruptions occurred on Thursday night, July 15, 2011 have caused significant increase on number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in North Tomohon Sub-district. The volcanic materials went up north of Tomohon District, away from the residential areas and have burnt down the forest near the volcano.

North Sulawesi’s volcano, Mt. Soputan, which is located on Southeast Minahasa District, erupted on July 3rd, 2011 spewing ashes and smokes 5000 meters into the air. Official had established an eight-kilometers radius exclusion zone. No evacuation instruction had been issued as the nearest residents live about 8 km from the volcano. However, many flights to and from Manado were cancelled and some regional airports were closed due to the ash clouds. The volcano has showed no further eruption pattern but officials are still monitoring its activity.

“Because of hope our life continues. If life gives us a hundred reasons to cry, we hope we have a thousand reasons to smile. If we want to have a better life, our hope will bring us there. One refugee without hope is too many.” This message was read by refugee representatives of five communities: Arabic, Afghani, Sri Lankan, Chinese, and Somali in their language; it was also read in Bahasa Indonesia and English on 2011 World Refugee Day commemoration hosted by Church World Service.