Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 16:43 Written by Administrator Thursday, 14 January 2010 16:17

The Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) encourages Americans to respond appropriately and responsibly to the earthquake in Haiti. Those who wish to best help the victims in Haiti are asked to donate cash as an alternative to in-kind donations such as clothing and canned goods. Cash donations are widely recognized as the most efficient and effective means of relief, a policy supported by CIDI's funding partner, the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, and those in the established international disaster response community.

UNA-USA encourages donations to:  

World Food Programme.   This link takes you to the donation site of Friends of the World Food Program which enables Americans to make tax-deductible contributions.  As of January 14, WFP was already feeding 3,000 people in the city of Jacmel, southwest of Port-au-Prince, and gearing up to feed up to 2 million.

UNICEF . This link takes you to the donation site of UNICEF USA which similarly enables Americans to make tax-deductible contributions.

If you wish to volunteer:

If anyone wishes to volunteer, the CIDI website provides information about the types of volunteers who are needed and accepted by most agencies: usually people with relevant language skills, at least ten years' experience in disaster relief, with specific skills in medicine, health, communications and logistics, and willing to spend at least three months.  Full details available on the website.  There is a place to register your availability; relief agencies review the database and independently contact potential volunteers.  See http://www.cidi.org

Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 16:13 Written by Administrator Wednesday, 13 January 2010 17:23

Sympathies and condolences of the Division and its people go out to the country of Haiti, whose people are suffering from the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake near the capital, Port-au-Prince.The devastation is massive, in a country with few resources to rebuild.  International aid will have to provide a lifeline for months and years as well as future development.

We grieve the loss of thousands of Haitians, and also of UN Peacekeepers and other UN staff who were seriously injured or died. Without heavy equipment and related expertise, ordinary Haitians and the peacekeepers alike are left to rescue by hand those who are alive.  Water is critically short, and aid efforts will concentrate on providing food, water and shelter.

The Division's YPIC group, which mounted The Haiti Expedition Project last year, has acted quickly to solicit donations for work with the Expedition Project's partners, with which it worked in the fall. The link is:  

http://www.unasouthernny.org/ypic/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61&Itemid=61

Last Updated on Sunday, 03 January 2010 23:14 Written by Administrator Sunday, 03 January 2010 22:36

Website links for the Chapters that belong to the Southern NYS Division are now posted at the left under "Links of Interest".  Brooklyn, New York City (Manhattan), Queens and Westchester are all there.  Check these to learn what UNA colleagues are doing.  For the Division's YPIC (Young Professionals for International Cooperation) web pages, click YPIC on the menu above.

Last Updated on Sunday, 03 January 2010 23:18 Written by Administrator Sunday, 03 January 2010 13:49

Save the Date!  A Year of Crisis: Opportunities for Change -- the Second Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference and UN Members Day, will be held on Friday, February 19, 2010 at the United Nations.  USA-USA Members are welcome.  Feel free to bring a friend to this FREE of CHARGE event.  Registration is required and will be available soon at www.unausa.org 

Panels will include:

* Afghanistan: From Ramping Up to the Exit Ramp*
* Hitting the Reset Button on Global Economy*
* Turning Back the Bomb: Hard Cases and Grand Designs*

Last year's very successful conference brought together nearly 600 people from chapters, divisions, and many colleges and universities.

For information, contact George A. Garland, Executive Director of the Conference:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it