CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS/ACT APPEAL: GUINEA REFUGEES
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #6425
(In support of ACT appeal AFGN11 for $1,431,950)
CWS goal: $150,000
March 30, 2001


SITUATION: An already volatile situation has erupted into a humanitarian
crisis for refugees and internally displaced people of Guinea as a result
of on-going conflicts and incursions along Guinea borders with Sierra
Leone and Liberia. Intensifying the situation is an existing full-scale
military operation by the Guinean government against anti-government
forces that has been gaining momentum since January.  The external, as
well as internal conflict is causing physical infrastructures and local
services even deeper fragmentation.

The UN estimates 500,000 refugees from Sierra Leon and Liberia, as well as
tens of thousands of Guineans are currently affected by the crisis.  
Given the current situation many of the refugees and internally displaced
people are literally trapped between heavy military exchanges between
opposing forces.

Under the Action By Churches Together (ACT) Rapid Response Mechanism, a
joint Lutheran World Relief and Norwegian Church Aid assessment team went
to Guinea at the beginning of March.  Their report confirmed the figures
of trapped refugees and internally displaced persons.


RESPONSE: Church World Service is responding ecumenically by assisting
efforts of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International network.
ACT members in the area - Lutheran World Relief, World Service, Liberia
and Norwegian Church Aid -- have been active in responding to the basic
needs of the affected populations.

Urgent assistance is required to increase the capacity for relocation and
access to camps for all displaced people, and includes needs for food and
non-food items, shelter, improvements of water and sanitation facilities,
and also trauma counseling.


CWS RESPONSE: CWS is urging strong denominational support for the ACT
efforts in Guinea and is seeking $150,000 in denominational support.

For further details about the response, including specific budget items,
contact CWS ERP. Or visit the ACT web site at www.act-intl.org

To support Church World Service Response efforts in Sierra Leone please
send support to Account # 6425.


CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Guinea Refugees, #6425, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart,
IN 46515.  Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext.
222. On-line contributions to: www.churchworldservice.org

Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516.  For further information
about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS
Emergency Response.


distributed by
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