Syrian refugees and hunger: An interview with Caroline Brennan of CRS

The Syrian Civil War just reached its fifth dreadful anniversary. The war has led to the worst humanitarian crisis of our generation.

Millions of Syrians have fled their homeland seeking refuge in other Middle Eastern countries and even onto Europe. The refugees can escape the fighting, but hunger and poverty follow them.

They need the help of humanitarian agencies like Catholic Relief Services (CRS). Since World War II, CRS has come to the rescue of displaced civilians and the Syria crisis is one of its biggest operations ever.

Caroline Brennan of CRS is a senior communications officer in their Humanitarian Response Department. She recently took time to answer questions about the hunger crisis facing the Syrian refugees and what people can do to help.

Read the interview at Examiner:

Nepal: people cold, hungry and in shock after earthquake

The devastating earthquake in Nepal has claimed more than 2,000 lives and caused thousands more injuries. The 7.8 magnitude quake has leveled buildings and homes.

Read the full article at Examiner.

Nepal: CRS prepares response to massive earthquake

A massive earthquake struck Nepal and parts of India today. Early reports show hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and severe damage to buildings, homes and transportation routes.
 
Read the full article at Examiner.

CRS, Good Shepherd Sisters help Syrian refugees in Lebanon

The Bekaa Valley in Lebanon lies near the border with Syria. It was once a part of the Roman Empire. Today, this valley is one of the escape routes for Syrians fleeing the brutal civil war in their country.

Read the full article at Examiner.

The Real and Heroic Hunger Games

In the Hunger Games movie, a silver parachute is air dropped to the story’s hero, Katniss. It saves her life for it contains humanitarian aid.

That’s not fiction though for starving people in South Sudan, who have food air dropped to them by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

Read the full article at The Huffington Post.

The State of the Union hunger crisis

Today I asked Bill O’Keefe, the Vice President for Government Relations and Advocacy for Catholic Relief Services (CRS), about the state of world hunger.

Read the interview at Examiner.

My Cleveland Plain Dealer article on the Iraq Hunger Crisis

The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper just published my opinion piece on the Iraq hunger crisis.

Please check out the article at Cleveland.com.

My History News Network feature article

My article The Bright Idea They Had in 1953 that Changed the World appears this week at the History News Network.

Check out the article at HNN.

South Sudan: peace or famine

The coming new year may be another of horror in South Sudan. Aid agencies, including Oxfam and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), warn that famine could strike the country if a peace deal is not reached.

Read the full article at Examiner.

Typhoon Hagupit: Catholic Relief Services starts relief fund

Typhoon Hagupit (Ruby) has arrived in the Philippines, bringing heavy rains and high winds. Catholic Relief Services (CRS ) is taking action.

Read the full article at Examiner.

Typhoon Hagupit may cause hunger emergency in the Philippines

A massive storm, Typhoon Hagupit, is packing 175 mile per hour winds and headed right toward the Philippines. Tragically, the storm’s path may hit the same area that was leveled by Typhoon Haiyan last year.
 
Read the full article at Examiner.

McGovern-Dole helping children in Guatemala

A program named after former senators Bob Dole and George McGovern is feeding children all around the globe.

Read the full article at Examiner.

Budget fight in Congress harms starving Syrian refugees

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is urging Congress to increase funding to aid Syrian refugees. As winter arrives, the refugees from the civil war are facing starvation.

Read the full article at Examiner.

Philippines: a time to mourn, a time to rebuild

It’s been one year since Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Philippines. Thousands perished as high winds and massive rains leveled Leyte, Samar provinces and other areas. Food and water shortages quickly followed after the storm hit.

Read the full article at Examiner.