Disaster Response Afghanistan Project #64111

Emergency Aid Worldwide

Project Report | Apr 14, 2025
Burundi: Tens of thousand without basic needs

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Worrying, even dramatic, conditions prevail 
in the refugee camps in Burundi, East Africa. 
The aid organization action medeor is currently 
drawing attention to this. In the neighboring 
Democratic Republic of Congo, fierce fighting is 
taking place between militarily organized rebel 
groups – including the Alliance Fleuve Congo 
(AFC), under whose umbrella the largest group, 
M23, supported by Rwanda, operates – and the 
Congolese army.

People flee violence in the DRC
Tens of thousands of people have fled across the 
border into Burundi in recent weeks to escape the 
escalating violence. "They live there in makeshift 
camps or simply scattered on the streets," reports 
Emmanuel, who is currently on site for the partner 
organization of Aktion Deutschland Hilft, action 
medeor, and has visited several refugee camps in the 
Burundian-Congolese border region.

He has been coordinating humanitarian aid projects 
in the region for many years. But the current 
conditions are also causing him great concern. "Among 
the refugees are many women with their children. Many 
have fled the combat zones in the Democratic Republic 
of Congo, often walking several hundred kilometers. 
Some pregnant women have also fled, some giving birth 
on the way. I can hardly imagine the hardships they 
endured to make it to Burundi," Emmanuel describes.

17 Toilets for 6,000 People
But the next challenge awaits the people in the refugee 
camps, as the conditions Emmanuel has seen there 
are alarming. "There are currently 48,000 refugees 
living around the city, and the number is constantly 
increasing," Emmanuel reports. "The local structures 
here are unprepared for the sudden influx of people and 
are completely overwhelmed. In the hastily set up 
makeshift camps, there is insufficient access to water, 
hardly any sanitation facilities, and no medical care," 
he says.

"I was in a refugee camp where there were only 17 toilets 
for 6,000 people. Cholera is spreading; children are dying 
from malnutrition, malaria, and infections. Many people are 
sleeping unprotected on the streets or crowded into tents, 
with up to 20 people per six square meters."

Medical aid for refugees launched
Our alliance organization action medeor has already begun 
initiating initial relief measures. "We will now ensure that 
medical care improves. A mobile clinic has already begun 
providing care to the people. But we have realized that we 
need to increase the available medications, as they are not 
enough to treat everyone," Emmanuel explains the initial steps 
and challenges. "In the refugee camps, we will now not only 
provide medical care, but also distribute hygiene kits and 
mosquito nets, and provide psychological support to the 
traumatized people," he announces.

Thank you for your donation!

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Dec 17, 2024
Sustainable fishing in Maputo National Park

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Mozambique's fishing industry, particularly 
traditional, non-industrial fishing, is 
invaluable to the local population. It secures 
food and income.

Maputo National Park: Protection zones against overfishing
At the same time, unregulated practices and 
overfishing threaten the livelihoods of thousands 
of people and the region's biological diversity.

The Maputo National Park with its unique marine 
protected area offers solutions: the balance between 
use and protection is sought through closed seasons, 
protected areas without fish harvesting and the 
promotion of alternative sources of income such as 
aquaculture.

A unique marine area in Mozambique
The Maputo National Park Marine Protected Area 
encompasses an impressive diversity of ecosystems, 
including mangrove forests, seagrass meadows, 
mudflats, rocky shores and coral reefs. These habitats 
not only serve as nurseries for numerous fish species, 
but also as important buffers against the effects of 
climate change.

The protective measures include strict fishing quota 
regulations, closed seasons for endangered species and 
protected areas without fishing. Through regular 
monitoring and patrols as well as intensive educational 
work, the area remains a safe haven for marine 
biodiversity and a model for sustainable use.

Success through collaboration
Through collaboration with partners such as our 
alliance organization, ADRA Deutschland e.V., Peace Parks 
Foundation and local organizations on site, considerable 
progress has been achieved in recent years:

-Reforestation of mangrove forests on over 42 hectares
by 2023.
-Introducing sustainable fishing methods and training 
in local communities.
-Promote mussel aquaculture as an additional source of 
income.

These measures are supported by scientific research, 
educational programs and international support, 
including the Blue Action Fund.

Sustainability as a global goal
More than two thirds of the world's fisheries are 
considered overfished. These alarming figures highlight 
the urgency of collective and cooperative action to 
protect marine resources.

The annual World Fisheries Day on November 21st reminded 
us that sustainable fishing not only strengthens local 
communities, but also makes an important contribution 
to combating climate change.

The project in Maputo National Park in Mozambique is a 
good example of how it can be possible to protect marine 
resources while at the same time enabling people to make 
a living from fishing.

Thank you for your donation!

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Aug 23, 2024
Colombia: The Seeds of Peace

By Christoph Lubczyk | Project Leader

Decades of violence have left their mark in Colombia.
The ongoing armed conflict is leading to internal 
displacement. In addition, many Venezuelan refugees 
come to Colombia. Together with the local partner 
organizations CDP and Taller Abierto, our partner 
organization, action medeor helps to create the 
foundations for lasting peace.

Initiative strengthens own agriculture in Colombia

When José saw the first markets in Colombia after 
fleeing Venezuela, he was amazed. The vegetables 
were spoiled. But people ate it. “Why don’t they 
grow their own vegetables?” he asked himself.
The trained agricultural technician began growing 
coriander and chili. In 2023, he founded the 
association ASOPROCAMSUR together with other farmers 
to strengthen agriculture.
The association is supported by our partner organization, 
action medeor and the local partner organization CDP, 
which supports displaced people, returnees and vulnerable 
population groups in the Colombian Caribbean region.

More yields through sustainable irrigation

Together they built an irrigation system that directs 
water over 300 meters from a neighboring river to the 
fields. When the head of the Colombia project at action 
medeor, met José in the spring, she was impressed 
by how much had changed since her last visit.
José had laid hoses on the neighbors' properties. Thanks 
to the irrigation, the plants grew so well that the farmers 
were even able to pass on seeds and cuttings to others.

Secure income strengthens peace in Colombia

The people of the Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments 
need support like this to strengthen nutrition and their 
economic self-sufficiency. Both are prerequisites for lasting 
peace.
The more than 50-year conflict between the FARC guerrillas 
and the Colombian state was ended with a peace agreement in 
2016, but a power vacuum emerged with many armed conflicts, 
violence and displacement.
The project region located in the north of Colombia on the 
Caribbean side was also affected. Nevertheless, many Colombians 
fled from other regions of the country to the north. In 
addition, the supply crisis that began in Venezuela in 2014 
and the political power struggle led to many people fleeing 
there to the north of Colombia.

Parter organization action medeor expands health care

Supporting healthcare is also part of the project supported 
by action medeor, which runs until the end of 2027. The head of the 
Colombia project at action medeor still remembers the condition 
of the health post in Evitar, a district of the city of Mahates, 
which has a population of over 26,000: "The roof was partially 
collapsed, there was no running water or electricity, the walls 
were moldy." If at all, a doctor visited the town's more than 
2,000 people once a month. action medeor and CDP have renovated 
the health post and are supporting it financially: the doctor 
now comes once a week, and a nurse and a dentist also come every 
week. Evitar is one of five locations chosen in the northern and 
southern project regions of Montes de Maria because health care was 
particularly poor there. 

Promoters for Peace 

Another focus of the project is women, who particularly suffer from 
pervasive violence. Like Omerly. 
At 17 she was already the mother of two children. In 1993 she was 
displaced as part of the conflict with the FARC. She was only able to 
escape with her children and her mother. The emotional wounds ran deep. 
She was able to process her traumas through psychological help. Today 
she organizes discussion groups for other victims of violence.

She is supported by CDP and our partner organization, action medeor. 
Among other things, group therapy sessions help to transform 
psychological conflicts by promoting processes of reconciliation 
and strengthening self-efficacy. Works of art by women who have 
processed their suffering artistically during therapy can now be seen 
in the “mobile museum for symbolic memories”.

Colombia: Breaking the spiral of violence

Offers like this are important so that people can leave suffering 
behind and think like Omerly. She says: "Today I am proud that 
I am a courageous woman and to see my life and my family realized."

Like Omerly, at least 4,000 women and young people are being trained 
to become promoters of social change in order to strengthen peaceful 
coexistence. A further 2,500 young people acquire important skills for 
conflict and violence prevention at annual youth festivals in order to 
create the basis for democratic coexistence - so that the spiral of 
violence comes to an end.

Thanks for donating and helping realize these and other projects 
all over the world!

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