Italy earthquake kills more than 90 and leaves thousands homeless | World news | guardian.co.uk

Italy earthquake kills more than 90 and leaves thousands homeless | World news | guardian.co.uk: "Scores of people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in central Italy today after a powerful earthquake shook a mountain region, severely damaging a historic city and leaving hundreds feared trapped in rubble."

The New Straits Times Online: Malaysian relief workers heading for Gaza

The New Straits Times Online: Malaysian relief workers heading for Gaza: "KUALA LUMPUR: Members of 13 volunteer groups and non-governmental organisations will leave for Gaza next week to begin humanitarian work.
The groups, including the Malaysian Red Crescent Society, Mercy Malaysia, Peace Malaysia, Haluan Palestin, Aman Palestin and Muslim Care, will work in hospitals and relief camps. They are expected to provide medical assistance, set up basic infrastructure and provide education facilities for children.

Yesterday, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, patron of the humanitarian project, presented cheques totalling RM11 million from various funds to the organisations."

Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com

Breaking News from New Orleans - Times-Picayune - NOLA.com: "U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said she plans to call state and federal officials together in Washington, D.C., soon to try to settle a three-year dispute about how much FEMA owes Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina damage to Charity Hospital."

Asian American Giving: Opportunity within crisis in Myanmar

Asian American Giving: Opportunity within crisis in Myanmar: "am in Yangon visitng sites and organizations. We landed two days ago but I feel as if I have been here for a week. We have met so many people working with local and international organizations - before and after cyclone Nargis. The people are friendly and helpful and the food here is incredible."

Thousands raised for Victorian fire victims - Local News - News - General - Inverell Times

Thousands raised for Victorian fire victims - Local News - News - General - Inverell Times: "Thousands raised for Victorian fire victims
AILSA NORMAN
23/02/2009 5:35:00 PM
People from around Inverell have generously supported the Victorian Bushfire Appeal with donations flooding in from across the region.

The Inverell RSL Sub-Branch and RSL Auxiliary have made donations to both the Victorian Fire Appeal and Queensland Flood Appeal through the Inverell Salvation Army."

Costa Rica, Nicaragua Daily News–The Tico Times, NGO to raise more roofs for Costa Rica earthquake victims

Costa Rica, Nicaragua Daily News–The Tico Times, NGO to raise more roofs for Costa Rica earthquake victims: "The Chilean nongovernmental organization Un Techo Para Mi País (A Roof for My House) plans to return next week to areas damaged by the Jan. 8 earthquake to build temporary wooden houses for the families left homeless."

Scoop: Myanmar: UN Launches Post-Cyclone Recovery Plan

Scoop: Myanmar: UN Launches Post-Cyclone Recovery Plan: "Myanmar: UN Launches Post-Cyclone Recovery Plan

Speaking at the launch of a plan to rebuild the lives of millions in Myanmar affected by last year’s Cyclone Nargis, the top United Nations official to the region today stressed that strong foundations need to be in place to move beyond emergency relief to restoring economies and social services.

The three-year Post-Nargis Response and Preparedness Plan (PONREPP) provides the blue-print for the reconstruction of communities devastated by the cyclone, which battered the country in early May, leaving around 140,000 dead or missing and displacing 800,000 from their homes."

Costa Rica, Nicaragua Daily News–The Tico Times, NGO builds prefab houses for Costa Rica earthquake victims

Costa Rica, Nicaragua Daily News–The Tico Times, NGO builds prefab houses for Costa Rica earthquake victims: "NGO builds prefab houses for
Costa Rica earthquake victims

About 100 volunteers with the non-governmental organization Un Techo para mi País (A Roof for my Country) built 15 temporary homes this past weekend for families left homeless after the Jan. 8 earthquake."

Myanmar needs $700 mln in cyclone aid - U.N. | International | Reuters

Myanmar needs $700 mln in cyclone aid - U.N. | International | Reuters: "BANGKOK, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Military-ruled Myanmar needs around $700 million in aid over the next three years to recover from last year's devastating cyclone, an aid coordinating group said on Monday.

The appeal, focused on eight key areas including nutrition, health and livelihoods, comes at a time when many governments are being squeezed by the global economic crisis."

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Cyclone recovery “will take up to four years” | Food Security Natural Disasters Aid Policy | News Item

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Cyclone recovery “will take up to four years” | Food Security Natural Disasters Aid Policy | News Item: "YANGON, 15 January 2009 (IRIN) - Cyclone survivors in Myanmar will likely need up to four years to fully recover from the impact of Nargis, according to the UN."

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Cyclone survivors benefit from cash-for-work programmes | Economy Natural Disasters Aid Policy | News Item

IRIN Asia | Asia | Myanmar | MYANMAR: Cyclone survivors benefit from cash-for-work programmes | Economy Natural Disasters Aid Policy | News Item: "INKYUT, 22 December 2008 (IRIN) - Thousands of cyclone survivors across southern Myanmar are benefiting from cash-for-work programmes being implemented by the Myanmar Red Cross Society (MRCS)."

2theadvocate.com | News | LRA foundation won’t dissolve yet — Baton Rouge, LA

2theadvocate.com | News | LRA foundation won’t dissolve yet — Baton Rouge, LA: "NEW ORLEANS — Baton Rouge and New Orleans business leaders met Thursday to consider dissolving a rare private foundation they developed after Hurricane Katrina, but discovered — breaking up is hard to do."

Olivet College plans service trip to help hurricane survivors | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer

Olivet College plans service trip to help hurricane survivors | battlecreekenquirer.com | The Enquirer: "Olivet College is planning a weeklong service trip to support Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans. A group of 27 students and two employees left Saturday, Dec. 6, following the college's final exams. The group will help rebuild areas of the city and plans to return to Olivet Sunday, Dec. 14. In addition, they will spend one night at the Morgan Scott Project in Deer Lodge, Tenn., where they will be delivering new, unwrapped toys to families in Morgan and Scott counties, two of the poorest counties in Tennessee."

New Law Encourages Cash Donations for Midwest Disaster Relief

New Law Encourages Cash Donations for Midwest Disaster Relief: "New Law Encourages Cash Donations for Midwest Disaster Relief


IR-2008-133, Nov. 25, 2008

WASHINGTON –– Taxpayers who make qualifying cash contributions for disaster relief efforts in the Midwest could benefit from a recently passed law that suspends the percentage-of-income limits that would normally apply when taxpayers deduct the contributions on their 2008 federal tax returns."

Ike donations flow slowly as global crisis takes hold | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Ike donations flow slowly as global crisis takes hold | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "everal major fundraising campaigns were launched in the weeks after the storm, with organizers pledging to use privately raised money to fill gaps in federal funding and insurance payments.

But the money raised so far — less than $19 million for the four major regional funds combined — has prompted concerns that charitable contributions will fall short."

Mainland negotiation chief praises Taiwan charity for quake aid_English_Xinhua

Mainland negotiation chief praises Taiwan charity for quake aid_English_Xinhua: "BEIJING, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yunlin, chairman of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), has praised a Taiwan charity for its support to southwest China's quake-stricken areas."

Southern U. at New Orleans Locks Horns With FEMA Over Katrina Repairs - Chronicle.com

Southern U. at New Orleans Locks Horns With FEMA Over Katrina Repairs - Chronicle.com: "November 3, 2008
Southern U. at New Orleans Locks Horns With FEMA Over Katrina Repairs

At Southern University at New Orleans, hit hard by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, a battle between university officials and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has thrown into sharp relief an elevation-based discrepancy in efforts to repair the campus, reports the New Orleans Times-Picayune."

Nonprofits hit by Ike may seek SBA loans | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal

Nonprofits hit by Ike may seek SBA loans | courier-journal | The Courier-Journal: "Some Kentucky nonprofit organizations that suffered losses from the remnants of Hurricane Ike may qualify for low-interest loans, according to the Small Business Administration. Private nonprofit groups in Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, Shelby, Trimble and 28 other counties can apply.

Examples of eligible organizations are food kitchens, homeless shelters, museums, libraries, community centers, schools and colleges, the SBA said."

Recovery incomplete 6 months after Myanmar cyclone - International Herald Tribune

Recovery incomplete 6 months after Myanmar cyclone - International Herald Tribune: "YANGON, Myanmar: Six months after Cyclone Nargis smashed into Myanmar's coastline, killing tens of thousands of people, aid groups say once-lagging relief efforts have picked up pace but the task of rebuilding and recovery is far from finished."

Myanmar appeals for more donations for schools in cyclone-hit region_English_Xinhua

Myanmar appeals for more donations for schools in cyclone-hit region_English_Xinhua: "The Myanmar education authorities have appealed for more donations to rebuild remaining basic education schools in the cyclone-hard-hit Ayeyawaddy delta region, saying that 849 such schools are still in need of fund for the move.

According to the Department of Basic Education-1 under the Ministry of Education Thursday, out of a total of 1,785 primary, middle and high schools destroyed in the cyclone that hit the region early last May, 694 have been or are being repaired, leaving 1,091 schools yet to be done for reopening."