Disaster Relief

One of my responsibilities is to make sure our programs are of the highest quality possible.

Sometimes this means helping our teams figure out the best way to do something.

Most of the people receiving disaster relief here in Chad are refugees or displaced people from the Darfur crisis.

They have had absolutely no education and are not used to thinking in abstract ways.

Our latest exercise was to find out people’s priorities beyond tomorrow.

The most common element in all our program fields is the difficulty in just getting there.

Ayamba, our Congolese logistics officer surprised me today. He was the preacher of the day. He said he preaches at the local church about once every month or so and this was his third time preaching there.
About 6 months ago there was a general assembly meeting and the attendees were broken into groups for a debate. The topic was whether or not just giving the tithe is enough. He spoke for his group and the church leaders were so impressed that they asked him to be a regular guest speaker.

Attending church in other countries is always an experience. You are an observer and an observed, but you are also an equal participant and become a part of the local life, if only for a couple of hours. Goz Beida is in a Muslim region of Chad, but Chadians come here from Christian regions looking for work or with the government or army, often related to disaster relief. A church has sprung up here to serve these workers.

Not your standard disaster relief office, huh?
Today in the world of disaster relief was mostly an office and meeting day.  Yes, even here.  My least favorite kind of day.
The office is about 100m up a sandy road from the house.  Not far, but far enough for several children to ask me for something.  A year ago, very few would be so bold.  Apparently, soft-hearted but soft-headed disaster relief workers have been giving things to children who haven’t asked for anything but friendship.  Now the children no longer value us as …

Although we are only one of about half a dozen humanitarian organizations working here providing disaster relief, our activities have directly benefited these families. The disaster aid we have provided to them has helped these people to buy the basics when the UN rations didn’t materialize and helped them to buy the tools to cultivate, the medicines for their remaining donkeys, clothes, and to give them the hope to plant again. Read more…

Read about disaster relief in an IDP camp in Chad Africa and what it take to help

From Merry’s disaster relief journal: “…a bunch of soldiers armed with AK-47s, rockets and other…”

Learn about disaster relief in Chad first hand through the eyes of Merry Fitzpatrick

Follow the story of Merry Fitzpatrick as she travels to Chad Africa to help with disaster relief and aid.

EXCERPT: “I’ve been doing disaster relief work for about 13 years now. It is unlike anything else in the world. Mind-numbing days of tedium and discomfort mixed with unbelievable moments exhilaration when things work out that more than make it all worthwhile - when you can provide disaster relief to someone. After so many years, the learning curve is still very steep. It’s one of the things that makes disaster relief and aid work so exhausting while at the same time so compelling.”