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«
Water is the first priority » declares Bernard Kouchner SOLIDARITES has delivered a petition and a report to the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, and has invited him to launch an initiative to make universal access to water and sanitation an international priority. A delegation from the international humanitarian aid organisation SOLIDARITES met with the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bernard Kouchner, on Thursday 20th March on the occasion of World Water Day. This delegation delivered a petition which has already been signed by 51,464 people, together with a report on the current situation and our proposals. During this meeting, Alain Boinet, managing director and founder of SOLIDARITES, emphasized that unsafe water is the primary cause of death (1) in the world, and that it is urgent that this situation should become an international priority in order to reduce the number of victims, currently 8 million deaths every year. We believe that this situation is not inevitable, since every day lives are saved in the countries where we and other humanitarian organisations are working (in Darfur, DRC, Afghanistan, …) and where we carry out projects to provide access to drinking water and sanitation. However, although these projects are essential, they are not enough. It is for this reason that SOLIDARITES believes that financial mobilisation is necessary to raise the 10 billion dollars which are required every year to meet the United Nations Millenium Development Goals (currently less than half this amount is available). We have also put forward a suggestion to the Minister that international governance be made more efficient, through the creation of a World Water Agency, since over 22 United Nations agencies are currently involved in water issues to a greater or a lesser extent. Finally, we have proposed that an annual water report be published, detailing needs, priorities, objectives, commitments and results, which would lead to greater coherence, synergy and efficiency. SOLIDARITES was pleased to hear the remarks made by the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, and in particular his declaration that water is a priority, from a human, public health and development point of view. He added that it is undoubtedly « the first priority ». Moreover, Bernard Kouchner envisages putting forward and studying an initiative during the French Presidency of the European Union for the second semester of this year. This sort of initiative could form part of the preparations for the 5th World Water Summit which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2009, on the occasion of World Water Day. SOLIDARITES will take part, so that the subject of drinking water and sanitation in emergency and reconstruction situations can at last be addressed. (1) « L’Eau » (Water). Michel Camdessus. Robert Laffont. 2004. Press contacts: Alain Boinet 06 82 59 29 07 or Sophie Ghaleb 01.80.21.05.61 - direction@solidarites.org For more information on SOLIDARITES, please visit our website www.solidarites.org as well as our water campaign website www.votregouttedeau.org where it is possible to sign our petition. SOLIDARITES - 50 rue Klock - 92110 Clichy la-Garenne
8 million
deaths every year, that’s enough! Every year, 8 million people die from diseases caused by unsafe water and lack of hygiene. It is the leading cause of death in the world. Cholera, typhoid, hepatitis,… these water-borne diseases are silent killers on a massive scale, particularly in countries where there are humanitarian crises. Diarrhoea, which is easily cured here, kills 1.8 million children every year. The media reports every day on the smallest terrorist attack in Afghanistan, in the Palestinian territories, in Iraq and elsewhere. The media covers "celebrities" every day. Why doesn’t the media tell us about water which kills so many innocent people, to help to raise awareness and to trigger essential government decisions ? SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation, battles against this calamity every day in fifteen countries, with our team of water and sanitation specialists, hydraulic engineers and logistics engineers, and with support from our head office and our partners. Today, 1.2 billion people still do not have access to drinking water and 2.6 billion do not have access to basic standards of hygiene. We are all concerned by this challenge. SOLIDARITES’ work is essential, but it is not enough. It is for this reason that we have launched a petition, which has already been signed by 50,000 people, and which is to be sent to political decision-makers. On March 22, World Water Day, we will present the 50,000 signatories of our petition to Bernard Kouchner, Minister for Foreign Affairs, along with our "Report on unsafe water, the leading cause of death in the world". For journalists who are interested and will be receiving our "Report" in the next few days, we propose interviews with SOLIDARITES hydraulic engineers or with our Managing Director, royalty free photos which illustrate the current situation, and television images which were recently filmed in Darfur.
For more information on SOLIDARITES, please visit our website www.solidarites.org, as well as the website for this campaign www.votregouttedeau.org where it is possible to sign our petition.
SOLIDARITES
: the humanitarian situation in eastern DR Congo and access to On the eve of the "Conference on peace, security and the development of Northern and Southern Kivu" which opens on Sunday 6th January in Goma, DR Congo, the international humanitarian aid organisation SOLIDARITES reminds participants about the horrendous consequences of the armed conflict on the civilian population in this area, as well as increasingly difficult humanitarian access to this population for the NGOs who seek to provide aid. Humanitarian access to displaced populations in North Kivu has deteriorated to an extremely serious extent, especially in the Rutshuru and Masisi areas and along the Goma – Rutshuru route, where SOLIDARITES teams and vehicles have been involved in incidents (threatened at gunpoint by armed individuals) over the last few weeks. This has made the humanitarian situation even worse among those fleeing the fighting which broke out in August 2007 between the Congolese armed forces and insurgents loyal to Laurent Nkunda. Over the last three months, at least 6 incidents have taken place involving clearly identified humanitarian personnel and vehicles… Marine Lepage, emergency programmes coordinator for SOLIDARITES in
Goma explains, "the humanitarian situation for civilians is deplorable,
their living conditions are horrendous in a perpetually violent environment
: the greatest problems are access to water, food and sanitation."
She adds, "this is indeed a forgotten humanitarian crisis (4 million
deaths since 1996 according to figures quoted regularly by international
observers), despite the shock waves following the Rwandan genocide in
1994." This crisis is not visible enough since innocent civilians
are not being killed by armed conflict, but are victims of the consequences
of this conflict. Permanent, large-scale population migrations limit
access to farmable land and sufficient sources of drinking water whilst
the absence of hygiene facilities creates a favourable environment for
epidemics to spread. Using the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), SOLIDARITES has provided assistance to 45,000 displaced families throughout the Rutshuru, Masisi, Nyiragongo and Lubero territories (North Kivu) from the end of August to the end of November 2007. This assistance included distributions of essential items (jerry cans, blankets, mats, plastic covers, soap, kitchen utensils, cloths, mosquito nets), transportation of drinking water by truck, installing water springs and latrines, rehabilitating water supply networks and setting up temporary schools. In total, from January to November 2007, our RRM programme provided aid to around 85,000 families. It is vital that humanitarian assistance continues for civilian and displaced populations in Northern and Southern Kivu. According to UN estimates, 435,000 people were displaced by violence between November 2006 to December 2007, bringing the total number of displaced persons in North Kivu to 800,000. Many of these people have had to flee several times in just one year. They need assistance at all levels, and depend on international humanitarian aid. Moreover, exactions, rape and forced enrolment of child soldiers are on the increase. In view of this situation, SOLIDARITES requests that the humanitarian situation of civilian populations be one of the major preoccupations of the Conference on peace, security and the development of Northern and Southern Kivu, and that International Humanitarian Law be enforced by all parties to the conflict, in particular regarding the protection of civilians and humanitarian access. Press contact: O6.82.59.29.07 et
O1 80 21 05 96 
INGOs
in Nord Kivu urge the GoDRC and all parties to the conflict to protect
the civilian population and ensure unhindered humanitarian access 26 December 2007 As international non governmental organisations working in Nord Kivu we are extremely concerned by the steady decrease of humanitarian access. INGOs in Nord Kivu directly deliver assistance to most of the population affected by war. Fighting, multiplication of uncontrolled armed actors and road blocks are severely hampering our capacity to reach communities and deliver assistance. In the last three months, at least 6 incidents targeted humanitarian vehicles and personnel. NGOs clearly marked vehicles have been stopped and robbed by armed men; recently, one NGO was robbed in full day near an IDP camp, while delivering assistance. Since the recent upsurge of fighting, several NGOs have been forced to suspend their programs while life-saving activities are ongoing amid increasing challenges. At least 200.000 displaced are cut out from receiving aid, at a time when needs are increasing and the living conditions of hundred of thousands of civilians trapped in conflict are severely deteriorating. In many cases we are unable to assist entire displaced communities because distributions will put them at risk of being looted or attacked or because they are continuously changing the location of displacement because of insecurity. At the same time, we are concerned that intermittent access is having a negative impact on the protection of communities. Since December 2006, at least 437.000 people have been displaced, they live in precarious conditions and are often forced to flee several locations because of fighting. Deliberate targeting of civilians, sexual violence, forced recruitment, arbitrary detention and restriction of freedom of movement are increasing, while most of the perpetrators are not held accountable. In the interest of the civilian population, in order to ensure assistance to hundreds of thousands in need and in accordance with obligations under international humanitarian law, we urge the Government of DRC and all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and to provide safe and unhindered access for humanitarian workers. INGOs in Nord Kivu are directly delivering most of the humanitarian assistance to populations affected by the conflict and are implementing transitional and developmental programs. INGOs work in protection, distribution of food and non food items, livelihood, water and sanitation, health, nutrition, education and camp management. The following NGOs:
Bangladesh
: SOLIDARITES sends in an emergency team In response to the humanitarian disaster caused by Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh, the international aid organisation SOLIDARITES has sent in an emergency team to provide emergency humanitarian aid and meet vital, top-priority needs as they are identified. Cyclone Sidr has completely devastated southern Bangladesh: 28 districts are affected, 3000 people have died and thousands more are missing. Many affected areas have not yet received aid due to difficulties in reaching them: debris is strewn everywhere and is blocking roads, bridges have collapsed, etc. According to government estimates, between 60 and 70% of homes in the worst affected areas have been destroyed, as have all rice paddies and farms. Several million survivors have lost everything and are dependent on humanitarian aid. Their needs are great: drinking water, food, medical care, clothing, essential supplies, shelter… With 27 years of humanitarian experience, SOLIDARITES intends to provide assistance for survivors, in close collaboration with local authorities and in its specific fields of expertise: access to drinking water, distribution of emergency food aid and essential supplies. Whilst mobilisation and generosity for Tsunami victims was exceptional, aid for cyclone survivors in Bangladesh is slow to start. Every day counts to meet their urgent needs, SOLIDARITES calls for all the necessary funds to be released, and for French citizens to make generous donations, so that survivors may receive the aid that they need, in coordination with state authorities in Bangladesh. Press contacts: O6 82 59 29 07 or
O1 80 21 05 96
The position
of international NGOs working in Darfur on the attempt Chad, 8 November 2007: 36 International NGOs working in Darfur have condemned the recent attempt made by the “Arche de Zoë” to evacuate children from Chad. This activity does not represent the work carried out by international NGOs in Darfur, nor that of our colleagues in Chad. The international NGOs working in Darfour have always been fully committed to working in accordance with humanitarian principles and to respecting human rights and international law, so that they may remain neutral, impartial and accountable for their work among local communities. Moreover, our work aims to respect the rights of children, individuals and families. As a community, we are very concerned about any alterations to humanitarian principles and we work together, in coordination with the populations and local authorities in Darfur to carry out our programmes. 85% of humanitarian aid in Darfur is currently provided by the international NGO community. This declaration has been signed by 36 international NGOs including: Save the Children US, Save the Children UK, Oxfam, World Vision, Concern, Care, Tearfund, International Rescue Committee, Action contre la Faim, Norwegian Church Aid, ZOA refugee Council, International Medical Corps, War Child Holland, FAR, Save the Children Sweden, Medair, Terre Des Hommes, Action on Disability and Development, Solidarités, Acted, IAS, Merlin.
Attacks on
SOLIDARITES teams in eastern DRC Following the recent incidents involving SOLIDARITES teams in North Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo), we would like to clarify the facts and restate the guiding principles upon which our humanitarian aid is founded. On October 24, 2007, a SOLIDARITES team was travelling to Kinyandonyi (Rutshuru territory) to carry out work on the drinking water supply network when they were stopped by armed individuals from à Mai-Mai faction, according to official sources. One of our vehicles was requisitioned. Despite the gunfire, no one was injured. In fact, the shooting was not aimed at the SOLIDARITES personnel. The vehicle was returned to us later the same day. On October 28, 2007, SOLIDARITES team-members travelling to Goma from Rutshuru were stopped as they left the village of Rubare, and were forced to hand over all valuable items by two armed individuals. We would like to point out that these two incidents were not linked, nor were they specifically targeted against SOLIDARITES. They are in fact a reflection of the prevalent insecurity in the Rutshuru and Masisi territories where our teams work daily to meet acute humanitarian needs. Indeed, since the end of August 2007 and the resumption of hostilities in these two territories, SOLIDARITES has provided assistance for over 200,000 displaced persons. This emergency assistance for populations fleeing combat zones takes the form of distributing non-food commodities, supplying drinking water and setting up healthcare and education infrastructure. In parallel to these emergency activities, SOLIDARITES is also carrying out medium term activities to improve access to drinking water for indigenous and displaced populations. The team which was attacked on October 24th is currently rehabilitating the water distribution network in Kinyandoni so that 15,000 people will have access to drinking water. Due to the high level of involvement of our humanitarian organisation in North Kivu, SOLIDARITES maintains strong communication with the various parties who are responsible for ensuring that we can reach populations in distress and for safeguarding our teams, in accordance with the principles of international humanitarian law. We reassert that the activities carried out by our international humanitarian organisation are solely for humanitarian purposes, and that these activities are founded on the following principles: neutrality, impartiality and non-discrimination. We hope that this press release, which provides an objective factual account, will clarify the role of our humanitarian organisation and will ensure that any information relating to our humanitarian activities will not be distorted. Press contact: O6.82.59.29.07 and
O1 80 21 05 96
SOLIDARITES is an international humanitarian aid organisation which is active in fifteen countries including Darfur (Sudan), the Central African Republic (CAR), and is currently conducting an evaluation mission in Chad. We would like to clarify the following points:
Press contact: O6 82 59 29 O7 or
01 80 21 05 96
SOLIDARITES
reacts to the humanitarian emergency in North Kivu In the East of DR Congo, fighting and violence have returned once more. North Kivu is currently the scene of clashes between General Laurent Nkunda's forces (insurgents from new "mixed" brigades within the DRC armed forces), the FARDC (Congolese armed forces), groups from the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda – Rwandan hutu rebels) and Congolese Mai Mai. The impact on the civilian population is most alarming: around 745,000 people have been displaced by the conflict in North Kivu (UNOCHA figures), not including the current wave of refugees. In Mugunga alone, to the west of Goma, our emergency team has just estimated the number of displaced families at 7,000 to 9,000, representing between 35,000 and 45,000 people. SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation which has been working in DR Congo since 2001, is on the front line to react to this emergency. Thanks to our rapid response mechanism (RRM), and in partnership with the United Nations (UNICEF and UNOCHA), our teams are already providing appropriate aid to displaced families near Goma and Sake. According to testimonies by our team in North Kivu, most of these families had to flee the violence without any of their belongings. Their needs are great. To enable us to immediately distribute the pre-positioned supplies
which we have permanently available under the RRM programme, some members
of our Bunia and Beni teams have joined the Goma team to cope with the
current humanitarian crisis. In this difficult and exhausting situation,
our volunteers are working relentlessly to identify and meet the most
urgent needs: on Friday 7 September, Régis Mathon, a member of
our team, met with John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, who had come to assess the
situation of 9,000 families (nearly 45,000 people) grouped together
in Mugunga Camp, 15 km to the North-West of the regional capital Goma.
In the face of the humanitarian crisis in North Kivu, the warring parties must allow free access to vulnerable populations, and the international community must ensure their protection and provide additional ressources for essential emergency aid, in close partnership with humanitarian NGOs. Press contact: Alain Boinet O6.82.59.29.O7 and Communication department: 01 80 21 05 96 To find out more about SOLIDARITES: www.solidarites.org SOLIDARITES - 50 rue Klock, 92110 Clichy la-Garenne
Doctor
Kouchner, be careful with Darfur On the eve of the ministerial meeting of the enlarged International Contact Group on Darfur, which is due to take place in Paris on Monday June 25th, at the initiative of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner, we would like to say that any initiatives to be taken, however welcome they may be, must be considered in the light of the consequences that they may have on the Darfur population. For the past 3 years, SOLIDARITES has carried out a large humanitarian operation in Darfur, with a team of over 300 expatriate and Sudanese aid workers. We would like to emphasize the following points: - Despite the fact that a very large-scale humanitarian operation is being carried out in Darfur by over 10,000 expatriate and Sudanese aid workers via an air-bridge and a land-bridge, enabling aid to be provided to 2.1 million displaced persons and many of the 2 million other residents who are in need, serious problems still exist. - The number of displaced persons continues to rise (an additional 300,000 in one year according to UNOCHA estimates on April 1st), many refugee camps are overcrowded, for example Nyala, and essential resources are in short supply, for example drinking water at El Fasher or Seleah, where there is a 12 hour queue to fill a jerry can. - The rainy season has started and will continue until November, and it is therefore essential that large-scale distributions of seeds (millet, sorghum...) and food rations to farmers commence immediately. This is vital and urgent. - Aid workers are not able to reach all those who are vulnerable or under attack, and there have been many security incidents. - Although the international humanitarian effort is significant, it is no longer sufficient to counter the cumulative negative consequences affecting the victims of this conflict. Therefore, we make the following appeal: - Humanitarian aid in Darfur is not sufficiently mobile. Therefore, why not set up a "rapid response" type mechanism with experienced, independant humanitarian organisations (UN, NGO, ICRC) who have freight helicopters and pre-positioned stock points? - We ask of Bernard Kouchner that all political actions for peace may serve the purposes of humanitarian relief and not the contrary. We maintain that it is essential that there be a sanctuary for humanitarian aid, to enable sufficient aid to reach vulnerable populations, until a political solution for long-term peace which we all hope for can be found. Press contacts : Alain Boinet - O6 82 59 29 O7 or Sophie Ghaleb - 01 43 15 13 13
Darfur:
A way out, the right of sanctuary for humanitarian aid Back from Darfur, Alain Boinet, founder and managing director of SOLIDARITES, appeals for the right of sanctuary for humanitarian aid to avert a human catastrophe, which would further exacerbate the suffering endured by the victims of armed conflict and war crimes in Darfur. Visiting southern and western Darfur, Alain Boinet saw for himself how the entire international humanitarian aid system is fast becoming paralysed by insecure operating conditions. Humanitarian workers are under attack every day: stolen vehicles, violence, rape, simulated executions, Sudanese personnel working for NGOs murdered. Many humanitarian organisations have reduced or even frozen their activities. SOLIDARITES is maintaining all its programmes, which is difficult in rural areas and involves taking many risks. In Darfur, aid workers are caught in a trap. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), one third of the territory is no longer accessible for relief operations, and aid provided by NGOs is rapidly decreasing, especially in rural areas. The major risk, in the coming weeks and months, is that the populations in these areas will fall victim to food shortages or even famine, due to isolation and lack of aid. The second risk is that these populations will flee rural areas, causing a new influx of displaced persons to towns. This is a humanitarian emergency. We, therefore, call upon all political leaders concerned, in particular the President of France, to ensure “the right of sanctuary for humanitarian aid in Darfur”, until a lasting peace agreement can be reached. We also call upon Mr. Ban Ky moon, UN Secretary-General and, in particular, Mr. John Holmes, the new UN Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, who is currently in Sudan and is due to visit Darfur. We ask them to negotiate as a matter of priority the right of sanctuary for humanitarian aid. In other words, we ask them to ensure access to populations for relief operations and thus avert a humanitarian disaster. For the people of Darfur, stop this downward spiral and ensure the right of sanctuary for humanitarian aid. Press contact: Alain Boinet : 06.82.59.29.07 and 01.43.15.13.11. For information: SOLIDARITES has been present in Darfur since July 2004, and today 42 expatriate volunteers and 285 Sudanese are carrying out eight programmes, in partnership with several international institutions, to assist over one hundred thousand people (water and sanitation, food aid, support for agriculture...) in 6 areas of southern and western Darfur. For more information : www.solidarites.org
SOLIDARITES :
a humanitarian SOS for Lebanon In reaction to the humanitarian emergency caused by the current air raids in Lebanon, SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation, has decided to send a relief team to assist displaced Lebanese civilian populations. Indeed, the systematic destruction of infrastructure and the mass exodus of civilians obliged to flee the bombings and initial combat, has had the immediate effect of depriving tens of thousands of people from access to drinking water, shelter and soon perhaps food, since Lebanon is currently held under a de facto blockade. This situation could continue to worsen. SOLIDARITES, who have intervened in Lebanon in the past, request that there be a guarantee of free access to humanitarian aid for civilian populations in distress. SOLIDARITES makes an immediate appeal to the generosity of the general public, in order to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Lebanon without delay. Thank you for publishing our appeal Press contact , Communication Department: To support SOLIDARITES’ humanitarian aid
in Lebanon, To find out more about SOLIDARITES, or to make an online donation,
SOLIDARITES steps
in to assist earthquake survivors On May 27, a violent earthquake hit the centre of the island of Java, south of the major Indonesian town Yogyakarta, leaving over 4,000 people dead and tens of thousands injured. 70,000 houses were destroyed and around 400,000 people were left homeless. The survivors are gathered together in makeshift camps, and spend the night under crude shelters. In addition to the survivors, populations fleeing the Merapi volcano whose activity has intensified since the earthquake are also seeking refuge. Rainstorms over the last few days have only worsened the already mediocre conditions of hygiene. A team from SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation, has identified the most urgent needs : access to drinking water, hygiene and food. SOLIDARITES is now actively seeking funds in order to meet vital needs as quickly as possible in the districts of Bantul and Klaten, around ten kilometres east of Yogyakarta, an area whose population has not yet received governmental or international aid. Indeed, due to the scale of this disaster, the Indonesian government will not be able to meet the survivors immediate needs without assistance. The top priority for SOLIDARITES is to reduce health threats by installing drinking water and hygiene facilities for 18,000 earthquake victims, and to distribute emergency food aid and essential survival products, according to needs. Every day counts to meet the needs of the earthquake victims (many of which have lost family members), following this second disaster to hit Indonesia, eighteen months after the Tsunami on December 26, 2004. SOLIDARITES is actively seeking the funds necessary to provide this emergency humanitarian aid. Our sincere thanks for publishing this appeal. Press contact: To support
SOLIDARITES' emergency humanitarian aid, To find out more about SOLIDARITES, visit our website: www.solidarites.org
Tsunami : donations received by SOLIDARITES have helped 100 000 people 20 December 2005 One year ago, a giant, exceedingly violent tidal wave devastated the coasts of many South East Asian countries, especially Sri Lanka and Indonesia. This horrific natural disaster claimed nearly 270 000 lives and caused widespread destruction. SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation, wishes to pay tribute to the memory of those who perished, and to share in the grief of those families who lost loved ones, especially those of French citizens who died or disappeared in these tragic circumstances. SOLIDARITES would also like to commend the unprecedented generosity shown by the general public in France and many other countries, in support of the relief effort for Tsunami victims. For our part, SOLIDARITES launched relief operations in the first few days after the disaster. Initially, we provided emergency aid (access to drinking water, distribution of food aid and essential items) in Sri Lanka, then we implemented post-emergency programmes in Sri Lanka and Indonesia (Sumatra) to provide permanent access to drinking water, to clear debris, to rebuild roads and schools, and to revive fishing and agricultural activities so that tsunami survivors could regain food self-sufficiency. In total, these complementary projects, which received support from many institutional partners, companies and private donors, provided aid to 100 000 people in Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Their budget totalled 6 208 000 euros, of which 100% was allocated to Tsunami victims ; 75% of these projects have already been implemented, and the remaining 25% will be implemented at the beginning of 2006. We regularly report on the use of these funds on our website: www.solidarites.org. SOLIDARITES is available for journalists and the media who may wish to visit our aid programmes, or to enable them to interview our volunteers who have recently returned from their mission. SOLIDARITES is also available to participate in debates and broadcasts concerning the various issues raised by this unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The memory of Tsunami victims, and the needs which still exist in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, have led SOLIDARITES to continue its humanitarian programmes in these two countries, especially to provide permanent access to drinking water and sanitation facilities, and to revive fishing and agricultural activities. Finally, SOLIDARITES would like to say “Let us not forget that international aid should not only be limited to the areas physically devastated by the Tsunami”. Further inland, there are also many real needs, and those neglected by the relief effort also need assistance. Press contacts : Alain Boinet 06 82 59 29 07 To support SOLIDARITES’
humanitarian aid in South East Asia To learn more about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website : www.solidarites.org
Pakistan : Following the earthquake, drinking water is in critically short supply 7 December 2005 This winter, when temperatures will fall to –20°C, volunteers of the French aid organization SOLIDARITES are fighting for the survival of earthquake victims in Pakistan, by providing access to the most basic of human needs : drinking water. Our volunteers, including a hydraulic engineering specialist, have set up an operational base in Manshera, in the heart of the area devastated by the earthquake, and have commenced emergency activities to provide earthquake victims with access to the most basic of human needs : drinking water supplies (20 litres per person per day) and sanitation facilities. Displaced families from the Alaï valley, who have taken refuge in two camps in the Mera area (7,500 people, which will rapidly increase to 11,000 people) as well as in Batera camp, to the north east of the town of Besham, are receiving this essential aid. In Besham valley, the inhabitants of 11 villages (around 90,000 people) are also in urgent need of access to drinking water and sanitation facilities; they have seen their homes reduced to ruin and are living in temporary shelters. In total, this emergency programme plans to cover the installation of 520 latrines, 220 showers and 30 wash houses, as well as the distribution of hygiene products and jerry cans, a hygiene awareness campaign, waste management, and finally canal drainage to prevent flooding this winter. In addition, the Besham drinking water supply network needs to be rehabilitated. The horrific earthquake that hit the Kashmir region on October 8th left at least 73,000 dead and around 63,000 injured. SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation, is hard at work in Pakistani Kashmir. Donations are essential to enable us to continue our action and, one year on from the wave of generosity for the Tsunami victims, assistance for earthquake survivors in Pakistan is urgently required and remains insufficient. Press contact : Alain Boinet 06 82 59 29 07 To support SOLIDARITES’ emergency
humanitarian relief work in Pakistan To find out more about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website: www.solidarites.org
SOLIDARITES : aid for earthquake victims in Pakistan is a humanitarian duty 27 October 2005 The violent earthquake which shook Kashmir on October 8th claimed at least 53,000 lives, left between 75,000 and 100,000 injured, and orphaned thousands of children. 3 million people were affected, one million of whom lost their homes. Around one thousand villages and 5,000 to 8,000 schools were devastated. In Pakistani Kashmir, 90% of the town of Balakot was destroyed. Roads have disappeared, and whole valleys are now cut off from the world. With winter fast approaching, bringing freezing temperatures to this region in the foothills of the Himalaya, the survivors of the earthquake are in great need of shelter, blankets, food, drinking water, basic hygiene facilities, cooking equipment, vital commodities… many lives are at risk if emergency humanitarian aid is not provided to meet these vital needs. SOLIDARITES, an international humanitarian aid organisation which knows this part of the world well after 25 years of aid programmes in Afghanistan, is mobilised to provide aid to the populations of Pakistani Kashmir, and has sent a team comprising an evaluation officer, a logistics officer and a water and shelter evaluation specialist to the area. However, due to the sheer scale of this disaster, and the extreme urgency of providing aid to the most isolated populations before snow blocks supply routes, our volunteers need to have all the necessary resources at their disposal as quickly as possible, including financial resources. Therefore, SOLIDARITES makes a solemn appeal for the families who have survived the earthquake in Pakistani Kashmir, that they may not pay with their lives for the lack of interest shown by donors. Nearly one year after the exceptional generosity for the victims of the Tsunami in South East Asia, is this unfairness acceptable ? The parents in Pakistan who are trying to survive with their children are human beings that need assistance. We should not need to be reminded of our duty to help them. Our thanks to the media for passing this appeal on to the general public. Press contacts : Alain Boinet 06 82 59 29 07 To support SOLIDARITES’ emergency
humanitarian aid in Pakistan To find out more about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website : www.solidarites.org
SOLIDARITES : inauguration of a new drinking water network and treatment plant in Beni, DR Congo. 13 October, 2005 The French NGO SOLIDARITES is pleased to announce the inauguration of a new drinking water distribution network and treatment plant. The network was inaugurated and handed over to local officials on Wednesday 12 October in Beni, DR Congo, in the presence of the Energy Minister, Professor Pierre Muzyumba Mwanahembe, the Vice-Governor of North-Kivu province and a large delegation from REGIDESO (*), who had come from Kinshasa to attend. The project was carried out through the support of the European Union who funded the construction work from start to finish, a total of 2.5 million euros, as part of its 2nd programme to support rehabilitation (PARII) in DRC. This project is also the result of an exemplary partnership between REGIDESO, the Mayor and local council in Beni, SOLIDARITES and Aquassistance, together with strong community involvement of the local population, which has allowed this innovative, low cost gravity-flow water treatment plant using biological retrofiltration to be implemented. The Beni water plant and its network of 84 water fountains now deliver 2,100 m3 of drinking water to 170,000 local inhabitants, and REGIDESO is responsible for running the network. (*) REGIDESO. A semi-public urban water operations organisation.
SOLIDARITES - Villa Souchet – 105 Avenue Gambetta - 75020 Paris For more information about SOLIDARITES and our
work in DR Congo,
170 000 people
in Beni, DR Congo, Next Wednesday 12 October in Beni, in the North-Kivu province of DR Congo, the international humanitarian aid organisation SOLIDARITES will officially inaugurate, in the presence of national representatives and partners, a drinking water treatment plant and distribution network which is to serve 170 000 people. To mark the occasion, a delegation from Paris led by Alain Boinet, Director of SOLIDARITES, will travel to Beni to hand the new treatment plant over to local officials. This project is of vital importance to the town of Beni, since its population is growing very fast: 72 791 inhabitants in 1998, 176 000 in 2002. The town was no longer able to supply drinking water to all of its residents. The project was initiated in July 2000, work started in October 2003 and has now been completed. The SOLIDARITES' team was mainly comprised of hydraulics engineers, received support from Aquassistance voluntary experts and used the services of a drawing office for technical design. The principle is simple: an innovative, all-in-one project, with low maintenance costs, which has been scaled to meet the needs of Beni's population until 2010. It was carried out in close cooperation with Beni local authorities, the Governor of the province and the local population. This project, which was carried out in partnership with the European Union (EuropAid) and represented a budget of 2.5 million euros, forms part of a humanitarian aid strategy aiming to meet urgent drinking water needs with a long-term solution, thus reducing water-borne disease (diarrhoea, malaria, ...) and the mortality rate linked to impure water. The project includes:
The whole water supply facility has been carried out according to local customs and traditions, so that the beneficiary population can appropriate and maintain the network. It was built with the participation of over 500 Congolese employees working on the construction site. Moreover, the project was carried out through the involvement of several thousand members of the community. It will now be run (cost recovery and maintenance) by REGIDESO, a semi-public urban water operations organisation in DR Congo. SOLIDARITES' work in DR Congo over the past 5 years also includes other drinking water programmes, as well as sanitation, food safety and infrastructure programmes in North-Kivu, Katanga and Ituri. These programmes are carried out by 22 volunteers and numerous Congolese employees. For more information about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website: www.solidarites.org Press contacts:
United Nations Summit: As the United Nations summet opens, of which the main focus is the Millenium Goals to reduce poverty in the world, the humanitarian crisis in Niger is a vivid reminder that the objectives set by the international community are not being met in those areas where there is the most urgent need. Yet Niger is not only the poorest country in the world but also a country at peace where access is easy. The current food crisis had been predicted. Weaknesses in alert systems, lack of reactivity and generosity on the part of the international community, and inappropriate aid over too long a period have led to a serious food crisis threatening the lives of millions of Nigeriens including hundreds of thousands of children. The French charity Solidarités, which has been providing humanitarian aid – covering emergency relief through to reconstruction – in poor countries stricken by war or natural disaster for the last 25 years, has made the following observations: - According to our experience, in emergency situations combining both severe poverty and war, international funding is insufficient to meet the needs of the population, and is often delayed. - In the same way, the move from emergency programmes to reconstruction projects – which is a grey area at the end of each humanitarian crisis - is not sufficiently anticipated and coordinated by the institutions who fund programmes implemented by NGOs. - Bureaucracy even manages to infiltrate humanitarian action itself, and administrative requirements by institutional funding bodies take more and more time, whilst efforts made by NGOs like Solidarités to improve quality do not really receive support. - Public Development Aid is insufficient to achieve the Millenium Goals by 2015. If this is the case, what are the commitments of the United Nations and its member countries really worth ? - Concerning our country, France, despite increases in Public Development Aid (APD) instigated by the French President, we have observed that French humanitarian NGOs are affected by several cumulative disadvantages : insufficient state emergency humanitarian aid budgets (less that 100 ME for 2006), and an absence of operational continuity between emergency relief and reconstruction funding. This explains the very small proportion of public development aid allocated to French NGOs, in comparison with other European countries, around 1% compared to 3-5%. We therefore hope that this United Nations summet will be an opportunity for words to be reconciled with actions, and that France may lead the way. Press contacts: Alain Boinet O1.43.15.13.13 To support
SOLIDARITES' emergency humanitarian aid To find out more about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website: www.solidarites.org
SOLIDARITES : Tens of thousands of people at significant risk in Gina, Democratic Republic of Congo 19 July 2005 For over one month now, SOLIDARITES, an international
humanitarian aid organisation has had to suspend its activities in
the IDP camp of Gina, located 35 km north of Bunia, the main town
in Ituri, in the north east of DR Congo, due to a deterioration in
security conditions. SOLIDARITES had to evacuate its team from the
camp of Gina on 4 June 2005 because of the risk of carjacking, following
the kidnapping of 2 MSF volunteers, working on site. The current security
situation, in particular the last 12km of the road into Gina and around
the camp, is preventing SOLIDARITES teams from accessing Gina and
continuing their humanitarian aid activities. According to Fred Meylan, Head of Mission for SOLIDARITES in DR Congo « these people are trapped within a 5 km security perimeter around Gina and are entirely reliant on humanitarian aid. It is impossible for them to cultivate their land, situated too far away, for fear of severe reprisals by armed groups : rape, physical violence, extortion and kidnapping await the rare volunteers who attempt to move outside the protection zone controlled by the UNOMC (United Nations organisation Mission to the Congo).» Despite the already fragile security conditions in May, SOLIDARITES had put in place an emergency water treatment system in order to provide the population with a vital minimum of drinking water. A programme to construct 7OO latrines had also been 70% completed. Following the suspension of activities, the water treatment unit is no longer working and the population is left with the alternative of only 8 small springs, which do not provide a supply of drinking water. Furthermore, the latrines, largely insufficient in number, have been saturated for a long time. The risk of an epidemic of water borne diseases is more than alarming : cholera, endemic in this region, is a permanent threat to this extremely vulnerable population. An epidemic broke out in the neighbouring camps of Tché and Kakwa, three months earlier. The almost total absence of working medical units makes this situation even more critical. The mortality rate, already extremely high at the time of evacuation (3,5 / 1 000 for the under 5s, verging on the critical threshold of 4 / 1 000) can only increase. In addition to hunger and thirst (the last distribution of foodstuffs took place in June) the population has to cope with the cold, the site being located at an altitude of 1 500 m… The worst is to be feared. SOLIDARITES is warning the international community of the alarming reduction in the ability to provide essential humanitarian aid in this region devastated by more than 6 years of conflict. SOLIDARITES has been present in DR Congo since 2000. Apart from a team of 3 volunteers and 20 Congolese staff in Ituri (all currently on standby outside the zone), SOLIDARITES has humanitarian aid programmes in progress related to water treatment and access and food security, supporting almost half a million people, victims of the conflict. These projects concern two other provinces in Eastern DR Congo, North Kivu and Katanga. In DR Congo in 2005, SOLIDARITES has a total staff of 22 volunteers and 200 Congolese employees. Press Officer : Pierre Brunet, O1.43.15.13.13 To support
SOLIDARITES emergency humanitarian aid in DR Congo For more information about SOLIDARITES, please refer to our web site : www.solidarites.org
TSUNAMI : HUMANITARIAN
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ? The French general public showed extraordinary generosity to assist the survivors of the Tsunami, the gigantic tidal wave which washed over South-East Asia on December 26. Local authorities, companies and water boards also joined the high level of mobilisation. The Tsunami disaster received maximum coverage by the media, who made appeals for donations, in some cases in association with certain humanitarian organisations. Many countries, including France, the European Union, the UN, reacted immediately and are still active today. Finally, certain organisations declared that more donations had been received than were needed, which provoked a heated debate and raised questions which are still to be answered. 6 months after the tsunami, can a first situation
report be made ?
2- According to recent studies and surveys, we have
observed that 81% of the French population are still interested in
the Tsunami and that 78% of them consider themselves badly
informed concerning reconstruction activities. We all have
a duty to provide information in this regard. We invite journalists, the media and our partners to come and see for themselves the aid programmes currently underway as well as those which have already been completed. 3- Concerning the present and the future, we
would like to make the following observations : Tables showing sources and uses of funds as of May 31, 2005
To support SOLIDARITES’ humanitarian aid
programmes To find out more about SOLIDARITES, please visit our website : www.solidarites.org
To stop water from killing
twice in Asia, we need your support today We appeal to our fellow citizens to help us to provide clean drinking water to the survivors of the Tsunami disaster in Asia. We are currently implementing the following two emergency projects: - In Sri Lanka, in the East coast province of Ampara, we are rehabilitating wells blocked by sand and full of sea water, to provide fresh water for 20,000 disaster victims. Our team in Sri Lanka comprises 9 volunteers and 5 Sri Lankans, including hydraulic engineers, who are working with pumping and drinking water supply equipment. Bruno, our project leader, and his team are working 20 hours a day to meet the huge needs. They are asking us for more funding and equipment, so that they can do more, more quickly. - In Indonesia, south of Meulaboh, in Kuala sub-district, SOLIDARITES is assisting 2,800 isolated families, from 13 devastated villages. Once again, drinking water and sanitation are top priorities. In addition, we are setting up temporary shelters to accommodate these displaced families, and are providing them with essential materials, including jerricans. Our team in Indonesia currently comprises 5 volunteers, equipped with pumps and drinking water tanks. We need to provide them with additional means for action as quickly as possible. We urgently need the support of our fellow citizens to continue our humanitarian activities each day and, with 25 years of experience behind us, to best respond to the considerable needs with which we are faced. Whilst institutional funding takes time to be allocated, private donations enable us to act immediately. Water is the main cause of death in the world. To prevent water killing twice in Asia, we thank the media for informing the general public about our action and our appeal for donations. Thank you for your support.
Or make an online donation on our website: www.solidarites.org Press contacts :
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