Dear friends, dear donators
The months have gone by at an incredible speed and soon autumn was just waiting around the corner.
Unfortunately, the political situation in Niger has not improved during the last half year. Despite attempts of mediation by various authorities, the situation is still instable, affected by violent conflicts between the Nigerien military and the MNJ (Mouvement des Nigériens pour la justice). One of the most important demands of the MNJ regards a fair distribution of the proceeds from the uranium mining, comprehensive development programmes as well as a political decentralization in favour of the Tuareg region. Instead of signaling a willingness to talk to the people of the liberation movement (MNJ), the government solely places their emphasis on a military victory.
These difficult times will throw a couple of stones onto our path. However, we will pursue our aim to support the Tuareg Nomads – always true to our motto „Engagement Commits“!
Food Supply
In our last Newsletter we reported about the precarious situation in the Arlit and Talak region.
Thanks to your help and the incessant engagement of ENMIGRAW Niger, we have been able to support the hungry population by placing food supplies at their disposal.
Within only two days we sold 5 tons of rice, 3 tons of semolina, 700 liters of cooking oil and 4 tons of millet.
The people were overjoyed and indeed grateful, especially because we were able to sell them the provisions with a subsidy of 20%.
145 Tuareg families have benefited from this relief operation.
Today there are still many who enquire at the ENMIGRAW office in Arlit on how to get those food ration cards and if a possible continuation of this support was to be expected. We hope that the political situation will soon calm down, so that such action will not be necessary anymore.
Silver Casting Course
Hada’s silver casting course was followed by a Tuareg evening taking place in a nicely decorated tent in Bülach.
We had been invited to a presentation of our projects and at the same time enjoyed the film „Takolen – following the footprints of a new Tuareg generation" by Julia Oertli (Matura project).
Hunger & Thirst
At the beginning of this year the president of „hunger & thirst“ asked me for a presentation of our projects. After the first contacts Mouhamed and myself met with Cornelia Giger who is in charge of Relief Projects.
„hunger & thirst“ supports small relief projects that fight against hunger and thirst in crisis-ridden regions. All donations are collected at organized events. Thus the organizers take responsibility and all in a good cause. See also www.hungerunddurst.ch
In July we, therefore, received CHF 540.00 that will be used for reconstruction work of the well at Tschinsakan.
We would like to use this opportunity to thank you warmly and in the name of the people of Niger we also add a “tannemert hullan”.
ENMIGRAW Suisse Photo-Calender 2009
The new ENMIGRAW Suisse Calender 2009 in A3 format arrived.
With each sold calender CHF 35.00 will go in the reconstruction project of the well "Tschinsakan". Informations about this project you can find in "Planned projects/Well Tschinsakan".
You will find the respective order form in our shop (German part).
We wish you all a sunny and pleasant autumn time.
Anita, Mouhamed, Bea und Sandra