We are a global communion of churches in the Lutheran tradition country programs and partner organizations to promote justice reconciliation and dignity for individuals and communities LWF membership represents over 78 million Christians in the Lutheran tradition in 99 countries across the globe as well as ten recognized churches and congregations We strive to put our faith into action within and beyond the communion and seek God’s Word and Spirit to guide us Your partnership truly makes a difference.Together a better world is possible.With Passion for the Church and for the World many people still live in makeshift shelters after hurricane Matthew destroyed their homes and her six children found shelter in a concrete water reservoir under construction The water reservoir at the time was being constructed by Fondation Nouvelle Grand'Anse (FNGA) a partner organization of The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in the Grand’ Anse region of Haiti On that night the reservoir saved the life of Polonne Jean-Louis’ family Photo: The water reservoir which saved more than 200 people in Macaya Polonne Jean-Louis lives in the community of Bonel high up in the mountains of the Macaya area Four months after the hurricane devastated the Grand'Anse region of Haiti on the night of 3-4th October 2016 and LWF and partners are focusing on helping people get back to normal life Photo: The devastation caused by the hurricane in camp Perrin roofs and buildings were destroyed; rivers rose covering the area in two meters of flood water mud slides and flows left large areas smeared with debris Some buildings designated as shelters were blown away Photo: A man sleeps in a shelter he built with what was left from his home LWF and partners five months later are focusing on supporting people in rebuilding their lives To ensure maximum impact and effective use of funds LWF is forging an integrated country programme in Haiti with sister agencies Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) That collaboration is already bearing fruit in terms of greater effectiveness and more comprehensive response a disaster like “Matthew” can occur every year The country is prone to earthquakes and drought and there is ongoing political instability so  there is no telling when the next crisis may hit LWF and partners aim to enable people and communities to weather future crises an ability that is best described with the word “resilience” Photo: A family is building a roof with a shelter kit handed out by LWF during and after' approach makes a difference,” says Michael French LWF Regional Program Coordinator for Haiti and they themselves are better organised and empowered and more survive; the longer-term rebuilding is done with the community at the centre of the decisions.” What made it possible to respond promptly to people like Polonne Jean-Louis is the fact that LWF DKH and NCA are committed to being community-based and supporting their resilience in the long-term rather than just flying in during emergencies Whilst some international aid focuses on the more accessible populations LWF and partners work with those who are further away Jude St Gilles of LWF partner FNGA explains “Our partners from FNGA staff arrived here within 48 hours of the disaster after struggling for six hours on foot through the devastated landscape They estimated that more than 600 people had lost their lives in this area alone.” Even though the disaster happened months ago LWF supported people to rehabilitate farm land and distributed seeds right after the storm to re-plant their devastated fields but they will only produce crop in the coming months support from the Canadian Food Grain Bank provides 'food for work': 12 days' work rehabilitating roads will provide a month's food for a family “It is touching to hear that many share the food with others beyond their immediate family : a powerful sign of solidarity despite their own acute need,” Michael French says which is increasingly proving the most effective way to support people in crises Haiti director for the joint LWF/DKH/NCA programme explains: “They can decide for themselves what is most needed they are the ones who will rebuild their future; the international humanitarian community is simply there to enable and accompany them in that challenge.” Photo: (group in blue T-shirts) LWF is forging an integrated country programme in Haiti with sister agencies Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) Polonne Jean-Louis is still living with her children in the tiny makeshift shelter where they have been ever since their house was flattened by the hurricane LWF and partners will continue working to enable families like hers to build a proper home "What makes the difference" says Jude St Gilles "is that we were there before Hurricane Matthew and we will still be there with the community long after." French/ LWF Regional Program Coordinator for Latin Amerca and the Caribbean DWS Haiti LWF condemns the killing of civilians in Gaza airstrikes and the blocking of humanitarian aid   Chemin du Pavillon 2,1218 Le Grand Saconnex [email protected]+41 (0)22 791 60 00 whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine Ukraine -- Russia pounded a wide area of Ukraine on Thursday bombarding the city while the head of the United Nations was visiting in the boldest attack on the capital since Moscow's forces retreated weeks ago This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC Material from the Associated Press is Copyright © 2025 audio and/or video material shall not be published rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use The AP will not be held liable for any delays errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page I’ve seen the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people Recently, Michael Kofman, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and one of the foremost analysts of the war in Ukraine urged that the west “plan for the long war” He was talking about the military challenges facing the country: ammunition Kofman is right – the massive scale of the operation ahead cannot be overestimated. A recent trip I made to Kyiv confirms the extraordinary bravery resilience and commitment of the Ukrainian population But it also laid bare the civilian cost of the war civilian and humanitarian needs must be planned for the International Rescue Committee teams that follow up after the fighting find very high levels of need among the population A ship on the River Danube near Izmail a vital port for grain exports after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea agreement in July Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesThe experience of the International Rescue Committee especially in the east but in truth across the country Planning for the long war on the civilian front also means putting mental health on a par with physical health. This is especially important for the most vulnerable populations, such as children and elderly people. It also means sustaining evidence-based and cost-effective humanitarian action that works. Targeted cash support for affected populations should be a top priority given the working market economy, alongside ensuring that health and education services remain available. There has been some pioneering work in the Ukraine crisis, notably in online education coordinated by the Ukraine ministry of education, but also by NGOs, for example in using mobile health teams to reach close to the frontline. There is also a vital need to support civil society actors in Ukraine, a vibrant component of the humanitarian response and often first on the scene when disaster strikes. These pressing needs far afield have been exacerbated by the blockade on the export of Ukrainian grain which has had a catastrophic effect on the global price of basic foodstuffs Nine countries are on the UN famine watchlist and 50 million people in east Africa are going to bed hungry These problems will get worse unless they are addressed Now is the time for our leaders to behave as such If Ukraine is the defining struggle that so many have said it is David Miliband is CEO of the International Rescue Committee He was Labour MP for South Shields from 2001 to 2013 This story was originally published April 15 before Florida lifted proof of residency requirements People can now verbally confirm they live or work in Florida to be vaccinated.  dozens of Immokalee farmworkers lined up for COVID-19 vaccines beneath an overhang near vacant stores at a strip mall. Polonne Colin The main reason she opted for the vaccine now though she was eligible earlier: she sees everyone she knows getting it Rural health advocates who have ramped up efforts to reach farmworkers say demand for the vaccine is strong. And despite media reports and lawmakers' concerns that Florida's residency requirements hindered vaccination efforts for farmworkers advocates say health officials are finding ways around them.  "I’ve seen some flexibility especially from local health centers and also from some local health departments I don’t know how much leeway they are supposed to have but they have been accommodating and accepting," said Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli general coordinator of Apopka-based Farmworker Association of Florida “Hopefully officials are realizing the urgency and seeing this as a public health issue and not a political or immigration or whatever-else-you-want-to-make-it issue.” In case you missed it: How Florida left farmworkers out of its COVID-19 pandemic response In March: Nikki Fried to Gov. DeSantis: Give Florida farmworkers, all teachers COVID-19 vaccines now Florida Department of Health says a state ID or other proof of state residency is required to receive a vaccine But health workers are accepting a variety of forms of identification and say they will find ways to reach people who have none Some non-Florida IDs being accepted: temporary work visas membership IDs and letters from nonprofits But another complication emerged this week: the halting of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine Health workers had been relying on the one-dose shot to vaccinate Florida's more than 100,000 farmworkers quickly as many begin migrating north this month The Healthcare Network reached more than 430 farmworkers Saturday in Immokalee with the shot but will now rely on the two-dose Moderna vaccines “Ensuring patients return for shot two is a major concern for organizations working with marginalized and underserved populations who struggle with poor access to transportation or cannot easily leave work,” said Gabrielle O’Boyle which also vowed not to conduct enforcement operations at or near vaccine sites “It is a moral and public health imperative to ensure that all individuals residing in the United States have access to the vaccine.” Only about one-quarter of states made it clear on their websites that undocumented immigrants were eligible for vaccines and that getting vaccinated would not negatively impact their immigration status a nonprofit focused on national health issues Health policy analysts said fear and uncertainty around immigration consequences could make families wary of seeking out the vaccine In January: What is Florida’s plan for vaccinating thousands of farmworkers? It’s unclear The Florida Department of Health, in the section of its site on vaccine eligibility says: “To prove residency an adult resident must provide a copy of his or her valid Florida driver license or a copy of a valid Florida identification card.” Seasonal residents can present other proof of residence such as a recent utility bill or mail from a government agency farmworker and rural health advocates worried the requirement would prevent farmworkers including those on seasonal agricultural H-2A work visas Some undocumented immigrants have had trouble accessing vaccines at brick-and-mortar pharmacies, according to reports.  “We still have seen people facing hurdles,” said Lindsay McElroy of the Guatemalan Maya Center in Palm Beach County She noted undocumented individuals who had difficulty signing up with Publix In Palm Beach County: Immigrant communities in PBC less likely to be vaccinated And undocumented farmworkers in Homestead have been unable to access vaccines, found the Miami Herald which prompted Florida Democrats this week to call on Gov. Ron DeSantis to ease vaccine residency restrictions But that seems to have already happened at farmworker vaccination events in recent weeks though it’s unclear if it stems from a policy shift proving Florida residency has not been a barrier to vaccinating farmworkers The Coalition of Immokalee Workers collaborated with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and others to distribute more than 3,000 one-dose vaccines in roughly a week this month. Nely Rodriguez said the nonprofit and its partners worked with health officials to vaccinate people who did not have identification “We worked with the people who were bringing the vaccines and they understood that our community doesn’t always have that,” she said Community health centers said they don’t require Florida ID The Healthcare Network partnered with growers who last Saturday sent school buses of workers The buses carry the workers to fields to pick tomatoes that help feed the nation.  “Because vaccination is an in-scope service for health centers we’re not required to ask for that and also we know that these are folks who live and work here because their employers are bringing them but we haven’t experienced it,” said Dr The organization asks for some form of ID but can work around not having one Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida has organized targeted farmworker vaccination events in the LaBelle area director of social services for the organization said the center doesn’t ask for ID but most workers bring a form of it the majority of them come with a crew leader so they have the H2-A documents.” The Florida Department of Health did not respond to questions about easing state residency requirements Florida agriculture commissioner Nikki Fried noted the state’s progress in recent weeks “Commissioner Fried appreciates the Division of Emergency Management’s efforts in helping us make these vaccinations happen and the efforts of all farmworker advocates protecting these essential workers,” said Franco Ripple Fried was among the chorus calling for DeSantis to offer farmworkers early vaccine access given the higher infection and mortality risks they face Federal guidance suggested they receive priority as at-risk essential workers the state directed mobile vaccination units to Immokalee which have large farmworker populations.  Palm Beach County Commissioner Melissa McKinlay choked up Easter Sunday as she thanked outgoing state emergency management director Jared Moskowitz for bringing the unit to a Belle Glade farm. “This has been a long time coming,” said McKinlay in a Facebook Live video “To have this happen on Easter morning The registration process at Saturday’s mass vaccination in Immokalee revealed barriers but ones that would have left workers out of the state’s mainstream vaccination efforts Many could not fill in their address on the form They relied on their employer for transportation to their employer-provided housing both required under their temporary work visas so tomato pickers circled healthcare workers who read the questions aloud An older worker asked for help writing the date.  Before and once vaccines arrived for Immokalee farmworkers the Coalition of Immokalee Workers provided intensive outreach including vaccine education through drawings The group publicized vaccinations for farmworkers via its radio station and flyers they passed out in labor camps and spots where workers gather before dawn.  “It’s not enough to just bring the vaccine and say ‘Here it is,’” Rodriguez said so the community learns about it in their languages with people they trust and who take the time to go to their homes and to their workplaces.”   More: CIW: This is what vaccine equity looks like “Every day there were more people interested in receiving the vaccine than the vaccines available,” the coalition's Julia Perkins said Some agricultural workers viewed the vaccine as a form of income protection they might ask us for the vaccine,” Mauricio Paz we travel together from one place to another so it’s important to be protected.”  Others lost family members or friends or were infected by the virus themselves Several Florida towns with farmworker populations have been disproportionately impacted with infection rates higher than the state average and up to three times more than nearby wealthier communities of retirees according to a USA TODAY Network - Florida March analysis of state data.  spent nearly a month in the hospital this winter with COVID-19 He could not work for three months as he recovered.   ‘I’m not going to get it,’ I recommend that they do because I know how hard it hit me,” he said “I hope that everyone gets vaccinated.” As soon as his doctor said it was safe to get vaccinated he made an appointment at Family Health Centers in LaBelle where he resides with his family full time the organization is coordinating for a second dose at the workers’ next stop.     Health workers said they see no more vaccine wariness among farmworkers than in the at-large population especially now that more people are vaccinated But they did point to the necessity of surmounting barriers that might keep them from getting vaccines such as transportation or people to answer questions or address misconceptions in their own languages the community comes early to their appointments,” said Robin Lewy director of programming at Rural Women’s Health Project in Gainesville “I’m more worried about the hesitancy in the medical population.” The Guatemalan Maya Center in Lake Worth is working with local health officials to host a mass vaccination event in late April Center staff booked a third of those appointments in two days The nonprofit has produced videos about the vaccine in indigenous Mayan languages to reach the state’s Guatemalan population  “We’ve been promoting education for a long time now,” McElroy said Janine Zeitlin is an enterprise reporter in Southwest Florida. Connect with her on Twitter @JanineZeitlin or at jzeitlin@gannett.com. She reported this story while participating in the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism's 2020 Data Fellowship Consider supporting local journalism by subscribing Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser