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Cyclone in Madagascar
At the end of March 2004 a powerful cyclone hit the
Island of Madagascar. Local government reports said that as many as 150,000
people had been left homeless by the storm and that a small number of people
had been killed. The worst hit region was around Antalaha, Ambanja and
Ambilobe, but the whole of Madagascar was affected in some way. The cyclone
entered from the northeast coast into Vohemar. Sambava, Andapa and Antalaha
where it reached its highest speed and almost destroyed the city and
environing areas.
In Ambilobe and Ambanja. many
people suffered from massive floods as the main rivers overflowed. In some
places a few villages literally disappeared. Mahajanga and Marovoay were
also badly affected as were the Southern parts of the country. Farms and
rice-fields were destroyed and cattle have drowned in the floods. The people
were In urgent need of food supplies and basic medical supplies,
A Relief Fund grant was immediately
sent to help the Mothers' Union in all five dioceses in Madagascar (Antsiranana,
Antananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toamasina) purchase ermergency
food and medical supplies for those in need.
Rebuilding lives in Kumi. Uganda
The Northern region of Uganda has
been severely affected in recent years by ongoing conflict. In November 2003
a Relief Fund grant was sent to the Diocese of Kurni to help purchase
emergency food supplies, blankets and mosquito nets for the displaced people
who had recently arrived from the neighbouring Diocese of Soroti.
Although the situation in Northern
Uganda remains unstable many people are beginning to think of starting to
rebuild their lives. The Mothers' Union in Kumi would like to help the
displaced people in this task. As many people fled their homes without any
of their possessions, the Mothers' Union in Kumi is helping them with gifts
of some seeds (groundnuts, millet, sorghum, maize), cassava cuttings, hoes,
and domestic items such as pots and pans.
A grant from the Relief Fund was sent in May 2004
to help the Mothers' Union in Kumi purchase these items.
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