2016. Ebola Vaccine.

Experimental Ebola Vaccine Offers Full Protection

An Ebola vaccine trial tested in Guinea (NYT) last year saw no one develop the virus ten days or more after receiving the vaccine, according to newly published results. Some eleven thousand people died in the West Africa Ebola outbreak (Guardian) that began in December 2013. 

Haiti. 2016. UN OCHA Situation Report. Hurricane Matthew

OCHA Haïti | Préparation & réponse aux urgences Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

26 December 2016 OCHA Haiti Hurricane Matthew - Situation Report No. 30 Dear partners, Kindly click here to view OCHA: Hurricane Matthew Situation Report No. 30 as of 26 December 2016. Situation Report Main Points The CERF approved two project proposals worth just over US$ 3.5 million for rapid restoration of safe education services, protection assistance to most vulnerable evicted from temporary shelters and support to an estimated 30,000 people in areas of return. The three-month USD 139 million Flash Appeal to respond to the most urgent post Hurricane Matthew humanitarian needs remains underfunded by USD 52.5 million (or 37.8% of the funding requirements). As of 22 December, WFP’s general food distributions reached 886,000 and 218,500 people in two phases. The collection of data for the new Emergency Food Security Assessment (EFSA) has been finalized and preliminary findings will be released next week. According to IOM registration data, some 3 per cent of families living in temporary shelters have received offers from strangers to take care of their children, raising concerns of trafficking risks. Best regards, OCHA

2017 Summer Program. The Yale Young Global Scholars Program (YYGS)

The Yale Young Global Scholars Program (YYGS) is offering six full-tuition plus travel scholarships for high school students from the African continent to attend 2017 YYGS at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. YYGS is committed to increasing education access for high achieving students of all backgrounds so these scholarships are entirely need-based. These need-based scholarships will cover tuition, airfare and travel expenses to the program. 

To be eligible for these full-tuition plus travel scholarships, applicants must:

·        Meet general eligibility requirements to apply to YYGS;

·        Be a citizen of an African country and currently reside on the continent;

·        Have attended school in an African country for most of the applicant’s education;

·        Complete the Yale Young Global Scholars online application, including the need-based scholarships portion

In order to be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet ALL of the requirements listed above. The online application, including the need-based scholarships portion and all supplemental materials, must be submitted by January 31, 2017. No additional steps are required to be considered for this scholarship.
 

The Yale Young Global Scholars Program is a summer academic enrichment and leadership program that brings together outstanding high school students from around the world for intensive two-week sessions on the Yale campus. Applications are available online at http://globalscholars.yale.edu . The application deadline is January 31, 2017. Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be interested!

Sincerely,

The YYGS Team

P.S. Please note that six students from the African continent will receive these full tuition plus travel scholarships, however every admitted student that completes the need-based scholarship portion of the application will be considered for a tuition discount. Last year, approximately one third of program participants received full or partial scholarships based on financial need. Unfortunately, YYGS cannot guarantee tuition discounts to all those who apply for it.

Happy Holidays! Give the Gift of Preparedness

Have a safe and happy holiday season from all the members of BEMA.  

To ensure your loved ones are prepared give the gift of preparedness that can be used throughout the year for those emergencies when the arise.

Peace be unto you and your loved ones.

Charles D. Sharp

CEO

Black Emergency Managers Association International

  

Give the gift of preparedness this holiday season

With the holidays fast approaching, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages everyone to consider giving gifts that will help protect their family members and friends during a future emergency.

Supplies for an emergency preparedness kit can make unique-and potentially life-saving-holiday gifts, such as:

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert.
• A flashlight with extra batteries.
• Solar-powered cell phone charger.
• Smoke detector and/or carbon monoxide detectors.
• First aid kit.
• Fire extinguisher and fire escape ladder.
• Enrollment in a CPR or first aid class.
• Books, coloring books, crayons and board games for the kids, in case the power goes out.
• Personal hygiene comfort kit, including shampoo, body wash, wash cloth, hairbrush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant.
• A waterproof pouch or backpack containing any of the above items, or with such things as a rain poncho, moist towelettes, work gloves, batteries, duct tape, whistle, food bars, etc.

Consider giving a winter car kit, equipped with a shovel, ice scraper, emergency flares, fluorescent distress flags and jumper cables.

For animal lovers, a pet disaster kit with emergency food, bottled water, toys and a leash is also a good gift.

The gift of preparedness might just save the life of a friend or family member. 

For more information, preparedness tips or other gift ideas, visit www.ready.gov.