Rising food prices highlight controversy over biofuels : From Catholic News Service
April 24, 2008
Calculating the exact impact of biofuel production on food price hikes is difficult. Despite the attention to biofuels as a factor in recent price increases, it probably had less of an impact than drought and other factors, said Lisa Kuennen of Catholic Relief Services, the U.S. bishops’ international relief and development agency.
Experts say high food prices permanent; bishops urge help for poor : From Catholic News Service
April 24, 2008
As protests over rising food costs spread around the globe, experts warn that high prices are here to stay, and Catholic bishops are calling for governments to take emergency measures to keep their poorest citizens from going hungry. The price increases are fueled by a variety of factors that “are all coming together at once,” [...]
Doctor brings attention to chaos in the Congo : From Baltimore Sun
April 18, 2008
When Mukwege opens the doors at Panzi Hospital, he knows that at the end of the day, 10 women lucky enough to be alive will have been counseled and had surgery for their injuries. Many others, however, never make the trip to the doctor.
Haiti's Rising Cost of Food Worries Aid Groups : From Voice of America
April 16, 2008
Haitians who live on less than two dollars a day rely on food aid and other assistance from abroad. Catholic Relief Services is one of several organizations that seeks to aid working poor, handicapped and other residents.
U.S. organizations need help to feed more in Haiti : From Miami Herald
April 16, 2008
Catholic Relief Services got a request last week from its partner, Missionaries of Charity in Gonvaives, Haiti, for more money to feed an additional 2,000 people. Currently, the charity feeds 1,200 people a month with lentils, wheat, cooking oil and corn, but it’s facing more demand. The Catholic Relief Services is appealing for private donations [...]
Volunteer couple leave Africa, but kids remain in their hearts : From Los Angeles Daily News
April 16, 2008
It had been months since she and her husband, Anselm, arrived as volunteers for Catholic Relief Services in the West African nation and they had grown accustomed to the hunger, poverty and daily funerals in the town. But the sound of a child laughing stopped them in their tracks.
Aid Worker Reflects on Catholic Relief in Africa as Pope Visits US : From Voice of America
April 15, 2008
Lori Kunze, CRS deputy director for East Africa, says her organization is involved in various anti-poverty and humanitarian programs throughout Africa, including initiatives aimed at providing people with access to clean water, good agricultural practices and emergency relief. But Kunze says “by far the largest” of CRS projects in Africa is its response to the [...]
Aid sector sees lingering woes in food aid crunch : From Reuters
April 14, 2008
A deepening global food crisis requires not only greater funding for food aid going to hungry nations, but long-term investment to improve agriculture productivity, especially in the developing world, officials and aid groups said on Monday.
Haiti Aid Workers Fear Widening Hunger : From Associated Press
April 13, 2008
As prices increase, desperation is spreading from the slums to Haiti’s working poor, part of the impetus for this week’s demonstrations, said Bill Canny of Catholic Relief Services.
Syrian, Jordanian diplomats urge U.S. to share Iraqi refugee burden : From Catholic News Service
April 9, 2008
Mark Schnellbaecher, Middle East regional director for the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services, described the situation as the “flight of moderation” from Iraq because the refugees are Iraq’s educated and middle class.