Weekly Online Lesson Online Lesson Archives Grade Level: 7-12 Subject: Social Studies

World Relief Organizations

By April 4th, 1999, an estimated 360,000 ethnic Albanian refugees had fled the Serbian province of Kosovo—a mammoth exodus forced upon them by the Serb military. Tens of thousands more are on the move. The escape route follows some of the most rugged terrain in Europe, across fields that are heavily mined. Many refugees have been walking for days without food and water. Some report having witnessed the murder of entire families. As they crowd the borders of neighboring countries, they are in desperate need of food and clean water, shelter, medicine, and other supplies.

Under the direction of Sadako Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), world relief organizations are rushing to assist Kosovo refugees. However, poor roads and airport facilities in the lands surrounding Kosovo have greatly hampered relief efforts.

Elsewhere in the world, a powerful earthquake in northern India buried dozens of villages, killing at least 110 people. Three days after the tragedy, relief agencies were still unable to assist villagers in this remote area. In Central America, Hondurans continue to rebuild cities and homes in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Colombians too are rebuilding after a devastating earthquake hit on January 25, 1999, killing 1,000. And in Sudan, drought and civil war threaten the lives of millions.

For the world's relief organizations, providing humanitarian aid is a never-ending concern. Today the need is as great as ever. In this lesson you will learn about a few of the many international humanitarian relief organizations giving aid to the suffering and oppressed.

UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the organizational arm overseeing relief efforts for ethnic Albanian refugees fleeing Kosovo. To better understand the mission and purpose of UNHCR, read its Mission Statement.

To provide its partner organizations with as much information as possible, UNHCR publishes an online digest of the latest refugee news around the world, as reported by the world's news media. Visit Refugees Daily to read a summary of the refugee situation in Kosovo and elsewhere in the world.

Clearly the operational costs for aiding and protecting refugees is enormous, especially in these times of political and social unrest. Click Funding and Donor Relations to learn about UNHCR's budget for this year. Follow the UNHCR Funding Overview link to find out which programs are funded, which countries are receiving aid, and how funds are put to work. For more depth, read the 1999 Global Appeal, particularly the Funding and Budget page.

Secondary teachers interested in exploring refugee themes with students will want to visit the For Teachers resource page, with links to cross-curricular unit plans, lessons plans, and other online resources.

The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross, under the direction of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), is an organization "dedicated to protecting the lives and dignity of victims of war, internal violence, and disaster, and to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies." The Red Cross is one of the oldest and largest relief organizations in the world, and its Web site is likewise huge, with information about local, national, and world relief efforts.

Begin with a look at Red Cross Services and click on the following headings:

• Armed Forces Emergency Services

• Biomedical Services

• Disaster Services

• Health and Safety Services

• International Services

• Nursing

• Youth Involvement

• Volunteering

To learn more about the history of the American Red Cross, visit the Virtual Museum and click on the year-mark images, or take the Automated Guided Tour.

Doctors without Borders

Medecins Sans Frontieres or MSF is the official name of this international organization of medical professionals who volunteer their time and services to "aid victims of armed conflict, epidemics, and natural and man-made disasters, and others who lack health care due to geographic remoteness or ethnic marginalization." In the US the organization is known as Doctors Without Borders.

Begin by reading General Information about the organization, and find out about the logistics of how these physicians respond to emergencies as they arise.

With an understanding of how MSF launches a mission, learn how the organization is helping Kosovo refugees by sending relief volunteers and supplies, and read their firsthand assessment of the situation. Don't leave without viewing the online exhibit CHILDHOODS INTERRUPTED BY WAR, an exhibit of children's drawings from Bosnia. It's a powerful reminder of the devastating effect of war on the innocence of childhood.

UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF, is the only organization in the United Nations dedicated exclusively to children. In response to the emergency in Kosovo, UNICEF is sending relief supplies aimed at children: blankets, water purification tablets, emergency health kits, vaccines, and high protein foods. UNICEF is also providing education and trauma counseling for the refugee children, many of whom have witnessed unspeakable brutality.

Begin by reading About UNICEF—its mission and annual report. Next read the information Newsline to learn about current UNICEF efforts around the world.

For a statistical look at children around the world, click the Statistics link. When the map opens click on the region of the world you want to investigate, and then choose a country from the alphabetical list. You can then view the statistical information by indicators such as infant mortality, health, nutrition, literacy, etc.

Before you go, play Who Am I, UNICEF's child identity puzzle. Learn about children's rights while you piece together the identity of three children. You'll learn from health, education, and justice experts along the way.

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