The Honourable People
Not every disaster is unexpected. Sometimes the warning signs can be seen months in advance. Insufficient amounts of rainfall. Political uncertainty. Skyrocketing food prices. Crop failure. Poverty. Any one or a combination of these factors can cause a disaster which can go unnoticed. Famine. For the United Nations to officially declare a famine … read more
And Then There was Light
Recently I was reminded that there is a vast difference between reading about something and experiencing it first-hand. After reviewing the project documents for ADRA’s work in Ukraine in preparation for my trip there, I thought I had a firm handle on what to expect. ADRA has been working in Ukraine ever since … read more
Helping Children in Damascus
The ongoing civil war in Syria has forced over 11 million people from their homes. An estimated 300,000 people have been killed and approximately 5 million have fled the country to find refuge in Jordan, Turkey, and Lebanon. The hardest hit city in recent months has been Aleppo. Once the largest city in … read more
Scared and Unprepared
Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti with a force that Emilien had not seen before in his 79 years. Emilien’s father had been a fisherman. He died in 1954. At the age of 17, Emilien was forced to leave school and start fishing to support his family. He lives very close to the sea … read more
Hurricane Matthew
Hurricane Matthew, still a category four storm with winds of up to 220 km, swept by Jamaica without directly hitting the island. Flooding was reported, but thankfully the damage is not severe. It’s effect on Haiti is far more severe. Up to 40 inches of rain may have fallen in some areas. One … read more
Helping People in Conflict
The monsoon rain hammered on the tin roof, making it almost impossible to hear the story. I was in the IDP (internally displaced people) camp called Janmai Kawng, in Myitkyina, in Kachin State, Myanmar (previously known as Burma). This was my first visit to the beautiful country I had first heard of … read more
The Dedication of Rajan
Heart and Soul: World Humanitarian Day This is Rajan. He was the ADRA guide and translator for ADRA Canada team members, taking them from village to village to witness ADRA’s work and talk with the people we were helping. Seven months earlier, Nepal had been devastated by a 7.8 earthquake. This mountainous country … read more
Rations in the Bush
Agnes remembers a better life. She had a home, a school, and her family was together. They were happy. In hours, her life changed. Her village in Wonderuba, South Sudan was attacked. She saw people being killed. Her family fled into the bush along with hundreds of others. They found refuge outside a … read more
Fort McMurray Update
In partnership with the Government of Alberta, ADRA Canada has opened the Alberta Wildfire Donation Centre in Edmonton, Alberta to help the evacuees and residents of Fort McMurray. As of June 1, the 175,000 square foot warehouse has been the primary location to manage all donations for Fort McMurray. The warehouse is located … read more
The Story of Grace
JUBA, South Sudan–When I hear stories about what people have suffered in South Sudan, it’s easy to lose heart. But then I think about people who inspire me—people like Grace Athiens. I met 12-year old Grace when we visited Budi, the small county in the eastern part of South Sudan. That’s where ADRA … read more
