YAO JIN VILLAGE, China - We had a successful meeting with the local party leader this morning. We told him OBI wanted to help other villages in his region and asked him for suggestions of places that might need some simple projects done such as latrines. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China - Debris removal from Yao Jin is now in full swing. Yesterday and today we had three trucks working on rotation to haul away rubble and we are definitely making a dent in the sea of destruction. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China - The name of the game today was “tank repair.” Most villages in the quake zone have huge concrete water tanks for storage and most of these were cracked during the quake. The cracks range from hairline fissures to gaping 4-inch splits. Either way, cracks and water don’t mix. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China – We had another action packed day. In Yao Jin, we diverted the water flow from the village water tank so that we could carry out some vital repairs. (more…)

YAO JIN VILLAGE, China - Today’s site visit was excellent. The villagers were warm and exceptionally motivated. By tomorrow they will have finished the construction of the ‘bath house.’ (more…)

As the tiny coffin was lowered into the ground the mother collapsed in the dust and began weeping uncontrollably. I was in Nairobi and attending the funeral of two-year-old Mary. The infant had been murdered by a mob from a rival tribe just a few days before. (more…)

NAKURU Region, Kenya - Civil unrest and outbursts of ethnic violence has created a serious humanitarian crisis in Kenya.

More than a quarter of a million people have been uprooted after President Mwai Kibaki was returned to power late December in a disputed election. (more…)

NAKURU Region, Kenya - Civil unrest and out bursts of ethnic violence since the December elections has created a serious humanitarian crisis in Kenya.

I arrived safely into Nairobi this morning. As expected things are running as normal and the city is calm. On the way to the International Aid Services compound there were signs of recent tensions, broken windows, scorch marks and burnt tires on some of the roads. (more…)