October 14, 2010
Dawn Calabia
Statelessness
The world has watched in awe as 33 Chilean miners have been rescued by a daring feat of engineering that made this once considered impossible rescue possible. Their fear of being abandoned, of being buried alive before rescuers could reach them, was overcome as their country and fellow citizens rallied behind them. We salute these brave men and women, the daring engineers, workers, government officials, businessmen, rescuers and volunteers who, with the support of the faithful families and the Chilean public, made sure this rescue was accomplished.
August 26, 2010
Dawn Calabia
Climate Displacement, Pakistan, Humanitarian Response, Asia
Five years after Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf Coast,
destroying homes and leaving people desperate for food and shelter,
we are witnessing similar scenes of destruction coming out of Pakistan. Floods caused by torrential monsoon rains have affected an estimated 17 million Pakistanis while humanitarian agencies, local relief organizations, and the Pakistani government and military, struggle to provide desperately needed assistance and to reach over one million stranded victims.
July 21, 2010
Dawn Calabia
Kyrgyzstan
This Thursday is an important date for the 58 members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, (OSCE). Tomorrow OSCE will decide whether to approve the immediate deployment and funding for 52 police advisors to Kyrgyzstan. This, coupled with the quick recruitment and deployment of experienced police professionals, could provide a tangible lifeline to hold south and north together and to rekindle hope for impartial justice. It could bring the return of rule of law to the conflict-plagued people of the south Kyrgyzstan.
July 06, 2010
Dawn Calabia
Kyrgyzstan, Asia
In visits with displaced Kyrgyz and Uzbek families, we were met time and time again with frightened people who were not sure what was happening but who believed that their lives were being threatened by the other ethnic group and that their government was not doing enough to help them. Many Kyrgyz and Uzbek families that lived in mixed neighborhoods fear attacks and want to move to mono-ethnic neighborhoods.
July 04, 2010
Dawn Calabia
Kyrgyzstan, Humanitarian Response, Asia
The acrid smell of smoke and piles of rubble characterize once vibrant Uzbek communities in Osh. In the neighborhoods surrounding Osh's famous mountain in the city, Uzbek homes and businesses are now burnt-out shells or piles of rubble. Family members sit on the sidewalk in front of their homes, some pausing from shoveling out broken plaster, others awaiting the delivery of plastic tarps or tents so that they might camp out on their property.
