The killers of the Last 13 days, 31 = Swine Flu, 60,000 = TB

During the last 13 days, up to May 6, WHO has confirmed that 25 countries are affected by the Swine flu and 31 persons have died from Swine flu. WHO data indicates that about 60 000 persons died from TB during the same period. By a rough comparison with the number of news reports found by Google news search, Hans Rosling calculates a News/Death ratio and issue an alert for a media hype on Swine flu and a neglect of tuberculosis.

I love this guy. He loves numbers, statistics and has a funny accent. Hans Rosling by the way is a world expert in global poverty. He is absolutely brilliant at what he does!

Thousands flee conflict zone; World Vision responding

More than 25,000 civilians have fled Sri Lanka’s war-torn north on Monday as government troops broke through into the Tamil Tigers’ last stronghold, the military said.
Government footage showed a stream of thousands of people fleeing the area on Monday, April 20. Tens of thousands of people remain trapped....................... http://www.worldvision.com.au/emergency/srilanka.asp?isource=92

World Vision in Sudan

As you may be aware Sudanese authorities have expelled 13 aid groups from Darfur. I was excited this morning to find that "World Vision" have not been expelled. This is an awesome opportunity to make a real difference. I'm going to be donating today, why don't you too?

In 2008 World Vision’s relief efforts included:
Monthly food rations to more than 300,000 displaced persons in Darfur
Health and nutrition services provided to 150,000 people in Darfur
Hygiene education to more than 100,000 people in Darfur
Water sources provided for approximately 19,000 people in Blue Nile State
Psychosocial support for more than 10,000 children in Darfur
Support for 45,000 people in Khartoum State in the areas of agriculture, livelihoods, school feeding, and water and sanitation.
Support for 65,000 people in Blue Nile State in the areas of agriculture and livelihoods support, health and nutrition, water and sanitation, rehabilitation and recovery.

Click on the link to donate

http://www.worldvision.com.au/emergency/sudancrisis.asp?isource=22

Two weeks to the Darfur epidemic?

As you may be aware some dreadful events are unfolding in Sudan. You can read about it in my previous post http://idreamichoose.blogspot.com/search/label/SUDAN .

U.N. estimates of the impact of the expulsion of aid workers from Darfur: within a period of less than two weeks 1.1 million people will need food; within a period of less than two weeks 1.2 million people will need water; within a period of less than two weeks 1.5 million people will be without access to health services; within a period of less than two weeks 760,000 people will not have shelter at the beginning of the rainy season; within one week water supplies in most camps will not be operational; within two-three weeks, you may have a widespread diarrhoea epidemic in the camps due to the lack of water and services and potentially unrest in the camps; within one month you are likely to have a mass movement of people from camps without NGOs to camps with NGOs.
Pretty horrible!

Sudan

You may be aware of the events that have transpired in Sudan this week that will without doubt lead to some pretty horrific events. Its shocking to find out that the President has kicked out all the aid agencies which will have a direct impact on over 2 million people.

Here's the facts:-

• The ICC, indicted Bashir (The President) on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which included murder, rape and torture.


• Hours after the warrant was issued, Sudan revoked the licences of several foreign aid agencies. The agencies included Britain's Oxfam and Save The Children, US-based Care, CHF and the International Rescue Committee, together with Medecins Sans Frontiers Holland and the Norwegian Refugee Council.


• U.N. and other agencies are running the world's largest humanitarian operation in Darfur, a mainly desert region in western Sudan. International experts say at least 200,000 people have been killed there, while Khartoum says 10,000 have died.
  A further 2.7 million people are estimated to have been uprooted by the conflict, which began when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against the government in 2003.
  

DEVASTATING IMPACT

• "[We are] providing hundreds of thousands of extremely vulnerable people, including many affected by the conflict in Darfur, with water, sanitation, and health services, and the government decision to revoke our registration is going to have an enormous impact on their lives," Alan McDonald said.

Analysts reckon that as many as 2 million people could suffer in the absence of the 10 big aid organizations.

Can you imagine what 2 Million people looks like? That's 2 million stories of devastation, pain and extreme loss!!

Lets all pray for these people.