More then 3000 people were recently killed in Bangladesh by the devastating cyclone "Sidr", leaving hundreds of thousands of inhabitants homeless. People lost their property, their belongings, their crops and all means to survive. Up to 90 percent of the region's rice crop was devasted, which will lead to a huge scarcity of food in the months to come.
The UNESCO General Conference, held every two years, will be inaugurated by Director-General Koichiro Matsuura on 16th of October and will last till 3rd of November 2007. HOPE'87, enjoying the official status "In Operational Relationship with UNESCO", has been invited like in previous years to attend the Conference.
On 10th and 11th of December HOPE’87 participated for the 1st time at the ECHO Annual Conference at the EC in Brussels. The Conference focussed on new political impetus and instruments for the humanitarian aid policy.
ECHO's task is to ensure goods and services get to crisis zones fast. Goods may include essential supplies, specific foodstuffs, medical equipment, medicines and fuel. Services may include medical teams, water purification teams and logistical support. Goods and services reach disaster areas via ECHO partners.
In a recent meeting in München at the HQ of the Siemens Foundation, Ms Filtzinger, Head of Department and Ms Weyrich, Desk Officer of the Siemens Foundation, Mr Jägers, Director of the UNESCO Foundation Education for Children in Need and HOPE’87 Secretary General Robert Ottitsch agreed on a partnership based, effective cooperation for Ethiopia.
