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First on the Ground: Collaborating to Serve in Disaster Areas

Posted July 2nd, 2019 by Cinelle Barnes.

When Craig Williams, the disaster response coordinator for Water Mission, gets ready to travel to the heart of a devastating crisis, he considers not only what might be necessary to bring safe water to people affected by disasters but also how to best collaborate with other organizations engaged in this work. Craig says he “makes new best friends” before he gets off the plane, as the other passengers often represent humanitarian organizations. He knows how crucial it is to make these connections — everyone is a possible strategic partner, especially in a crisis situation. Craig secures storage for our equipment in ... Read More

Meeting Critical Needs after Cyclone Idai

Posted June 26th, 2019 by Cinelle Barnes.

“I was totally traumatized,” said Zainabu Lesitula, a mother whose home was destroyed by Cyclone Idai. “I lost everything. When the storm hit, I felt so scared.” Zainabu and her infant son were displaced when the cyclone tore through Malawi in March 2019. They had to live with thousands of other survivors in the Namicheni displacement camp. Initially, the only water available was from a local factory, which was trucked in inconsistently. The supply was insufficient and had yet to be tested for safety or quality. “The little drips of water were not enough. To get more, we had to walk a ... Read More

9 Things You Should Know About the Global Refugee Crisis

Posted June 17th, 2019 by Cinelle Barnes.

1. We are living through a global refugee crisis of historic proportions. To date, 68.5 million people have been displaced from their homes. The Syrian civil war has produced the largest refugee crisis of recent times. Conflicts in South Sudan, Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (D.R.C.), the Central African Republic, Iraq, and Central America have forcibly displaced millions of people from their homes. Violence has displaced masses of men, women, and children to other regions, countries, or continents. Many have perished on their journey, never making it to safety. Those who make it to camps and settlements are plagued ... Read More

How Risky Is It to Bring Safe Water to Indonesia?

Posted May 24th, 2019 by Cinelle Barnes.

Want to know what it’s like to bring safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to a country made up of thousands of islands in the Ring of Fire? We’ve interviewed Surya Sentosa Surbakti, operations manager at Water Mission Indonesia, about his work in the archipelago nation. Read along and learn how you can support him and the rest of our Indonesia team! Water Mission staff member conversing with a resident of Sinbongkare Our Indonesia Program Water Mission began work in Indonesia in 2005 in response to the devastating tsunami that struck in December 2004. Since then, Water Mission’s local staff have been assessing the ... Read More

A Second Disaster: Waterborne Illnesses Hit Cyclone-Ravaged Areas

Displacement camp in Malawi
Displacement camp in Malawi
Posted April 4th, 2019 by Cinelle Barnes.

Just a few weeks after Cyclone Idai fatally struck Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, Water Mission is diligently working on the ground to bring safe water to those at risk of experiencing a “second disaster,” or a post-cyclone outbreak of deadly waterborne diseases. The number of reported cholera cases is at 1,700 as of April 3, with health officials reporting at least 200 new cases each day in the Mozambican city of Beira alone. Flooding has contaminated many water sources. This damage, combined with poor sanitation and heavy water pollution, has created an environment suitable for cholera outbreaks. Bangula displacement camp in Malawi Craig ... Read More

Cyclone Idai: What You Need to Know & How You Can Help

Devastating flooding in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai
Devastating flooding in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai
Posted March 21st, 2019 by Megan Staub.

In early March, southeast Africa suffered severe rainfall from the Idai storm system, which killed more than 100 people and led to serious damage to infrastructure and crops — a devastating loss just before harvest season. Idai strengthened into a powerful Category 3 storm in the following days and made landfall on March 14 in Mozambique before striking both Malawi and Zimbabwe. Tragically, at least 350 people have died and more than 2.6 million have been affected by the cyclone across all three countries. The United Nations has already reported that Idai may be one of the most ... Read More