CWS News

Clean water is the main and vital need for human life and other living creatures’. As clean water resources have become scarce, many efforts to maintain sufficient good quality water have taken place in communities. Water resource management, which requires capable and skilled human resources, becomes a top priority. Therefore, the need of clean water that continues to rise over the years can be fulfilled.

CWS Indonesia's Lesvi Roselim and Rod MacLeod, a consultant with INTRAC based in Oxford, carrying out an impact assessment for Christian Aid and Prospery Raymond, Christian Aid's Country Director for Haiti, traveled to five districts: Aceh Besar, Banda Aceh, Pidie Jaya, Aceh Barat and Nagan Raya in Aceh Province where CWS provided assistance to the community affected by earthquake and tsunami in 2004. The visit from October 3 to 13, 2011 conducted as part of Christian Aid Impact Assessment aimed to draw out lessons and implications of its future humanitarian response policy and practice.

Poso - Church World Service Indonesia has just conducted a health and nutrition baseline survey in three sub-districts of Poso District, Central Sulawesi in October 2011. The findings show that 58% of the respondent children under-five were anemic (HB < 11 g/dl). According to World Health Organization, it falls into high prevalence category, therefore needs intervention to reduce the number of children with anemia.

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.

JAKARTA- KSN stands for Kesetiakawanan Sosial Nasional or National Social Solidarity, an annual event commemorated by Indonesian on December 20. On October 27 to 30, 2011 the Social Affairs Ministry hosted 2011 KSN Expo that has brought together all stakeholders -- including local government of 33 provinces, private sectors, and NGOs – to share their experiences in implementing development programs. Better coordination and cooperation between the actors of development have always been the expected outcome. The expo that was opened by Salim Segaf Al-jufri, the Minister of Social Affairs was the fourth held by the ministry.

An average of more than ten diarrhea cases per month were reported among the refugees, and three typhoid cases were reported during September. Non-hygienic and unsanitary behavior and environment put refugees and asylum seekers at risk of contracting infections such as diarrhea, typhus, and influenza. It is therefore critical to increase their awareness and improve their information and knowledge on hygiene and sanitation.

“I was pessimistic since rice field usually needs a lot of water, yet water is scarce in this village, and in West Timor in general. We gave it a try on a small-scale field,” says Chornelis Neno, 50s, one of village leaders of Biloto, West Timor. “It works,” Neno tells CWS, looking very happy.

In case of emergency, knowledge and skill on how to give first-aid may prevent severe injuries or death. Refugees are considered more vulnerable just because they do not speak the same language as the local community or people in community’s healthcare center. When an emergency occurs, fellow refugees from the same country or with the same language are expected to provide assistance because they could be closer than CWS’ Health Officer or even paramedic.

Busan, South Korea -- International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific is the largest HIV/AIDS forum in Asia and the Pacific Region and the second largest in the world. The 10th ICAAP -- provided the opportunities for greater regional collaboration, sharing of ideas among people infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemics from across the region and provides regional and national organisations, governments and individual stakeholders with space to enhance their mutual contributions in the response to HIV/AIDS - was held in Busan, South Korea on August 26 - 30, 2011 carrying the theme "Diverse Voices, United Action." It was attended by about 2,500 people sixty-four countries.