Results tagged “doctorswithoutborders”

We feel it is especially appropriate to launch the national tour of our "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City" exhibit in New York, home to thousands of people who have fled violence and persecution in other parts of the world. The launch of this public education initiative represents a major effort on our part to bring attention to the plight of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) worldwide -- issues that we feel are relevant and interesting to New Yorkers. A staggering 33 million people are displaced from their homes today, having fled violence in more than 60 different countries around the world--and the response to their plight remains inadequate. Until conditions improve, we must continue to raise awareness of the challenges faced by populations who have been forcibly displaced.

Back in February, we wrote about emergency medial aid organization Doctors Without Borders planning a refugee camp exhibit in Central Park for the fall. Well, the time has come and the exhibit will open up tomorrow. "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City" will have an 8,000 square foot exhibit at the Cherry Hill tomorrow through Sunday, September 17.

Made up of actual materials used by MSF [Medicins Sans Frontieres- Doctors Without Borders in French] in the field, "A Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City" brings to light the day-to-day living conditions of refugees and IDPs through interactive exhibits and guided tours by experienced MSF humanitarian aid workers. Visitors explore the challenges of finding safety, food, water, and shelter —the basic elements of survival— and learn how MSF provides essential medical care and controls epidemics.

Doctors Without Borders will be pitching a tent in Central Park this fall. There will be an 8,000 square foot exhibit that looks like a refugee camp placed in Cherry Hill (near Bethesda Fountain) to give an approximation of what's it's like to live in a refugee conditions after disasters. Here's what Doctors Without Borders says:

Guided by MSF aid workers, visitors to this outdoor educational exhibit are asked to imagine that they are among the millions of people fleeing violence and persecution in, for example, Afghanistan, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, North Korea, or Sudan.

Continue reading "Refugee Camp in Central Park"

The Thanksgiving Day Parade has made it way down, with better weather (less windy, barely wet) than expected. For those of you who stayed out in the 40 degree weather, we that hope you warm up soon - and that you brought your camera so we can see pictures of the celebrating on Flickr. And tell us if you had a good time. Now, it's on to the eating!

The weekend is here, and unfortunately our run of nice weather has run out. The rains will be coming. Luckily the city is prepared with plenty of indoor activities to enjoy, and if you're not scared of getting a little wet there is some outdoor fun to be had as well.

Everyone we know is doing something, however small, in response to the devastating disaster, but some are doing what they do best: cook and eat. We've heard of a few food events to benefit the tsunami relief effort, but please let us know if you've heard of any others.

The tragedy that has swept across the Indian Ocean from Somalia to Sri Lanka to Thailand has prompted many people to ask Gothamist what they can do to help victims of this horrible natural disaster.