September 1, 2010

Edinburgh launches city-wide appeal to fund clean water for Pakistan flood survivors ›

As flood waters continue to rage in Pakistan, Scotland’s capital today (30 August) launched an urgent appeal to raise funds for the millions affected by the disaster.

The Edinburgh Disasters Response Committee – led by aid agency Mercy Corps in association with the City of Edinburgh Council and other city organisations - is calling on people to donate via Edinburgh-based Mercy Corps, to help the people of Pakistan recover from the floods.

"Access to clean water is critical to prevent potentially lethal water-borne diseases like cholera spreading, particularly in areas overcrowded with those made homeless by the flood waters. If untreated, cholera can kill a child in less than 24 hours," said John Cunningham of Mercy Corps, "The floods have had a huge impact on the whole of Pakistan, and there's a real risk that water-borne disease could take hold and make this tragedy even worse as the months go on.

"Immediate emergency aid is crucial, but it is just as important to make sure that people have access to clean water supply once the flood waters recede and the recovery and rebuild effort begins. With the help and generosity of the people of Edinburgh, we will build 50 lasting, sustainable water sources that will benefit more than 50,000 people in Pakistan. It will have a real impact that will still be felt for years to come, and will be one that the people of the Capital can be extremely proud of."

Mercy Corps has been operating in Pakistan since 1986, in many of the communities hardest-hit by this year's floods. The charity is providing emergency aid on the ground now, in the form of health clinics and distribution of food, water and clean-up equipment, but is also looking ahead to the long term needs of affected communities.

Edinburgh's Lord Provost George Grubb, who chairs the Edinburgh Disasters Response Committee said: "I'm pleased to have seen fast action from the British Government and aid agencies to deal with the immediate impact of this disaster. I would ask the people of Edinburgh to give everything they can to support Mercy Corps' efforts to provide assistance to communities beginning the long process of recovery. It will make a real difference to the lives of thousands of families in Pakistan. The capital has a long and proud tradition of reaching out to those in less fortunate circumstances, and I hope we will see that compassion and generosity in action as a response to this appeal."

How to help:

The Edinburgh Disasters Response Committee is calling on people in the city to donate to the appeal through Scottish aid charity Mercy Corps, at www.mercycorps.org.uk or by calling 0845 245 0686 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.

ENDS

For further information contact Mercy Corps Scotland Press Officer Erin Gray: 0131 662 5164 / 0797532954, egray@uk.mercycorps.org

Notes to editors

The Edinburgh Disaster Response Committee was formed in 2009. In response to the earthquake that hit Haiti in January 2010, the Committee's appeal raised £430,000 to help earthquake survivors.

Mercy Corps is a non-religious international aid and development agency with European headquarters in Edinburgh. Mercy Corps reaches people in more than 40 countries around the world, supporting local people struggling amid disasters, conflicts, chronic poverty and instability to rebuild their communities and get back on their feet. Mercy Corps has over 3,700 staff worldwide and helps more than 14.4 million people each year. For more information visit www.mercycorps.org.uk

Appeals initiated by the arrangement with Mercy Corps are not intended to be exclusive routes for giving by either Council staff or members of the public. The arrangement also does not preclude the Council working with any other charities. Any communications will make clear that there may be other ways of giving, e.g. through other charities.

August 20, 2010

As flood waters continue raging, Scottish aid charity Mercy Corps ramps up operations in southern Pakistan ›

As flood waters rise in southern Pakistan, Scottish aid charity Mercy Corps is quickly expanding efforts to assist families in four districts of Sindh Province. The Edinburgh-based aid agency is making multiple daily trips to displacement camps with water tankers, building latrines, and preparing to open two mobile health units to meet pressing medical needs. The United Nations estimates that 35 percent of Sindh Province is underwater and 2.5 million people in the province have been affected by the floods.

“This tragedy is unfolding from north to south. In the southern part of Pakistan, flood waters are still flowing in, rushing through communities, and creating tremendous destruction,” said Mercy Corps Pakistan Country Director Steve Claborne. “People are desperate and confused. They’re staying in crowded camps, with friends and family, or even camping out on roads or wherever they can find higher ground.”

The Mercy Corps team based in Sukkur reports that clean water is the most pressing need in Sindh Province. In response, the agency has started trucking water tankers into displacement camps three or four times daily, providing 250,000 litres of water per day for 15,000 people. In addition, Mercy Corps plans to bring multiple high-volume water filtration units to Sindh in the coming days, and is working closely with local organisations to determine how to best support their efforts.

Mercy Corps will also open two mobile health units in Sindh Province early next week to provide basic medical care for 300 people per day. The most pressing health needs are treatment of water-borne diseases such as gastro-intestinal problems and upper respiratory infections. Lack of clean drinking water and deplorable sanitation conditions threaten to create more widespread and serious outbreaks of disease.

“We will be faced with enormous public health challenges in the next four weeks,” explained Mercy Corps Director of Public Health Dr. Arif Noor. “This could get much worse if people do not receive adequate drinking water soon. We have not yet seen outbreaks of cholera, but we have seen many incidents of diarrhoea and other serious water-borne illnesses.”

Mercy Corps continues to meet needs in the hard-hit Swat Valley, where the agency is providing clean water for 10,000 people per day via water tanks, high-volume filtration units and water purification tablets. Mercy Corps is also delivering hundreds of food kits containing staples such as cooking oil, sugar, salt and rice, and tool kits with wheelbarrows, shovels, hammers and other tools needed for clean up and rebuilding efforts.

Mercy Corps has been working in Pakistan since 1986, running a range of health, economic development and emergency relief projects. The organisation was working in both Swat Valley and Sindh Province prior to the floods, focusing on a mix of boosting incomes, promoting health and caring for livestock.

How you can help:

Donate to the Mercy Corps Pakistan Emergency Fund:

- Online at www.mercycorps.org.uk

- Call 0845 245 0686

- Or send a cheque to Mercy Corps, 40 Sciennes, Edinburgh EH9 1NJ

July 9, 2010

Iraq recovery at risk without more effective aid, warn aid agencies ›

A group of aid agencies has today warned that if aid support from the EU and UK government for Iraq continues to fall, it could pose a serious risk to the country’s recovery.

Seventeen international and national non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including UK-based Mercy Corps and the NGO Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI), today launched Fallen Off the Agenda? More and better aid needed for Iraq recovery, highlighting that Iraq is still extremely fragile, ranking in the top ten of the 2010 index of failed states (see note 1). It remains volatile, rife with corruption and is struggling to rebuild after decades of sanctions and war. Yet attention and support for Iraq is presently waning and budgets have been slashed. The European Commission and the United Kingdom, for example, have drastically reduced their aid budgets for Iraq (see note 2).

Mervyn Lee, Executive Director of Mercy Corps said:

“Iraq is at a critical and difficult juncture, struggling to rebuild itself, and without enough of the right kind of support the country could once again unravel. Effective aid delivery and development assistance from the international community is still absolutely necessary to prevent that from happening.

“The international community – and that includes us here in the UK and countries throughout the European Union – have a moral obligation to make sure millions of Iraqis have a fighting chance for a stable, secure future. Long-term commitment and large-scale investment is critical to help pull the people of Iraq back onto their feet.”

The Iraqi public sector remains seriously impaired, say the agencies, unable to deliver quality basic service such as water, electricity, adequate healthcare and war widows’ pensions to millions of people in the country. Despite the country’s oil reserves, the Government of Iraq does not yet have the capacity to effectively manage its potential, nor to efficiently respond to the most basic needs of the population. Furthermore, the government’s ability to deliver basic public services relies almost completely on global oil price fluctuations.

As a result, the agencies also called for aid to focus on developing and working in partnership with local Iraqi community and civil society organisations.

Fyraz Mawazini, Executive Coordinator of the NCCI, said:

“Working to support and develop Iraqi civil society organisations is absolutely critical to provide essential services to the population, at the same time as reinforcing the capacity of the government. This will strengthen Iraq's governance, the government’s accountability, and facilitate local communities’ participation in the recovery process, which is key to ensure sustainable progress and development. Many Iraqi community organisations do not have yet the maturity, capacity and means to take on humanitarian, development and human rights challenges alone. More cooperation and partnership with the international community is needed to build a comprehensive, strong and independent civil society in Iraq, leading to a fully fledged democracy and more stable future for the country as a whole.”

Note 1: The Failed States Index 2010, Foreign Policy and The Fund for Peace.
Note 2: The DFID budget for aid and development in Iraq, which was already seen as insufficient (£20 m for 2009-10), has been halved for 2010-11. In 2010, the European Commission budget for the development and cooperation with Iraq has also been halved (from €72.6 million for 2008 to €65,8 million Euros for 2009 and 2010). The European Commission budget for humanitarian aid for Iraq and for the 1.7 million Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries in 2010 (€18 million) has also been reduced compared to last year (€20 million).

For further details (including a full list of the agencies involved in publishing this breifing) or to arrange an interview, contact Erin Gray, Mercy Corps European Headquarters Press Officer on 0131 662 5164 / 07917532954 or email egray@uk.mercycorps.org

June 17, 2010

Preparations begin for St Andrews students’ 10,000 mile biodiesel drive to Mongolia ›

In a world first, four students from the University of St Andrews will next month set out on a mammoth 10,000 mile drive across the world in a biodiesel-fuelled car, raising money for charity. The team of students – known as ‘The Green Yaks’ – will compete alongside other teams from across the world in the internationally renowned Mongol Rally adventure from 24 July. They will be driving on some of the most treacherous (and sometimes non-existent) roads en route from the Festival of Speeds in Goodwood, Chichester to the wilds of Mongolia, without sat-nav and on a route of their own choosing.

The students, who all study sustainable development together at the University of St Andrews, have decided to make this challenge even tougher than their competitors by travelling all the way to Mongolia in a car fuelled by biodiesel – a feat which has never been attempted before.

Team member Teddy Wadsworth said:

“We wanted to do something extraordinary with our summer holidays, and travelling all the way to Mongolia in a car that already has 199,000 miles on the clock, one broken window and that’s fuelled by biodiesel will certainly be a little different.

“Our mothers are all completely terrified for us and our friends can’t believe we’re doing it – so we’re all the more determined to finish and raise as much money for charity as possible. The BP oil spill has shown exactly how important alternative fuels like biodiesel are too, so we’re happy to be able to have our adventure, raise funds for charity and do our bit for the environment too.”

John Cunningham, Director of Fundraising at Mercy Corps said:

“We’re so pleased that teams like the Green Yaks are taking part in the Mongol Rally this year to raise money for our work helping the people of Mongolia. We work across the world to help communities in need and it’s great to see students from St Andrews take on such a big challenge to raise funds.”

Find out more or donate to help the Green Yaks raise money for their challenge. The Green Yaks are being aided in this adventure by some major sponsors and would welcome more. The current Sponsors are Biodriven, a biodiesel company; Azule Airways, Brazil; and Vitamin Water.

May 28, 2010

Mercy Corps wins major award for ICT work in Middle East ›

This week UK-based aid and development agency Mercy Corps received a major international award for its work to support Palestinian information and communication technology (ICT) companies, alongside i

April 21, 2010

Pakistan Crisis Far From Over ›

Nearly a year since more than three million people were displaced by military operations in north-west Pakistan, the crisis is far from over.

July 29, 2009

Mercy Corps partners with City of Edinburgh to quick-start disaster appeals ›

In a UK-first, the City of Edinburgh Council and humanitarian charity Mercy Corps have teamed up to create a quick-start fundraising process in response to crises overseas.

June 12, 2009

Joint Statement on Registration of Mercy Corps Scotland in Northern Sudan ›

Mercy Corps and Mercy Corps Scotland clarify statements made by UN Undersecretary General John Holmes.

April 28, 2009

Mercy Corps Prepares to Meet Overwhelming Humanitarian Needs in Sri Lanka ›

Portland, OR – The global relief and development agency Mercy Corps is mounting a humanitarian response to the growing crisis in northern Sri Lanka, where more than 90,000 people have fled figh

April 2, 2009

Mercy Corps Lauds President Obama's Plan for Increased Funding to Fight Hunger and Poverty ›

The global relief and development agency Mercy Corps today praised President Barack Obama’s announcement of new U.S. funding to help the world’s poorest people overcome hunger and poverty.