humanitarian

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Egypt Border With Gaza Opens, to a 'Trickle' of Aid
'The Situation
Is Catastrophic'

'The Situation Is Catastrophic'

'Trickle' of aid begins as trucks move from Egypt into Gaza, but some say much more aid is needed

(Newser) - The border crossing between Egypt and Gaza opened on Saturday to let a trickle of desperately needed aid into the besieged Palestinian territory for the first time since Israel sealed it off in the wake of Hamas' bloody rampage two weeks ago. Gaza's 2.3 million Palestinians, half of...

Biden: Israel Will Allow Humanitarian Relief to Gaza

But only through the border with Egypt, and with inspections

(Newser) - President Biden said Wednesday that Israel had agreed to allow humanitarian assistance to begin flowing into Gaza from Egypt with the understanding it would be subject to inspections, and that such aid should go to civilians and not Hamas militants. In remarks from Tel Aviv, where the president had gone...

Humanitarian Doctor 'Didn't Take No for an Answer'
Humanitarian Doctor 'Didn't
Take No for an Answer'
OBITUARY

Humanitarian Doctor 'Didn't Take No for an Answer'

Partners in Health co-founder Paul Farmer, who helped impoverished people worldwide, dies at 62

(Newser) - Dr. Paul Farmer, a US physician, humanitarian, and author renowned for providing health care to millions of impoverished people worldwide, and who co-founded the global nonprofit Partners in Health, has died. He was 62. The Boston-based organization confirmed Farmer's death on Monday, calling it "devastating" and noting he...

Founder of Syria's White Helmets Group Dies

James Le Mesurier helped start the volunteer rescue organization

(Newser) - A former British army officer who helped found the White Helmets volunteer organization in Syria was found dead in Istanbul early Monday, Turkish officials and the group said. James Le Mesurier's body was found near his home in the Beyoglu district, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The Istanbul...

Harvard's Humanitarian of the Year: Malala

Pakistani girl who survived assassination is honored

(Newser) - The teenage Pakistani girl who survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban has been honored as Harvard University's humanitarian of the year. Malala Yousafzai, an outspoken proponent for girls' education, accepted the honor yesterday at the university. She spoke nostalgically about her home region, the Swat Valley, and said...

Celebs Who Are Surprisingly Charitable

Taylor Swift donates $4M to Country Music Hall of Fame

(Newser) - Taylor Swift is donating a sizable $4 million to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the largest gift ever donated to the museum by an artist. It will fund the Taylor Swift Education Center, a new classroom and exhibit space opening in 2014, the AP reports. Swift proves...

Greg Mortenson Scandal May Be 'Tragedy' for Girls
Greg Mortenson Scandal
May Be 'Tragedy' for Girls
OPINION

Greg Mortenson Scandal May Be 'Tragedy' for Girls

Could hurt effort to educate females in poor countries: Michelle Goldberg

(Newser) - The allegations that author Greg Mortenson isn't quite the humanitarian he claims to be smacks of the James Frey memoir scandal , with one all-important difference, writes Michelle Goldberg at the Daily Beast . Frey damaged only his own reputation, but Mortenson could do far worse. He is, after all, "...

Angelina Jolie Heads to Haiti
 Angelina Jolie Heads to Haiti 

Angelina Jolie Heads to Haiti

UN goodwill ambassador visited survivors yesterday

(Newser) - Angelina Jolie's latest humanitarian mission: Haiti's earthquake victims. The actress and UN goodwill ambassador visited with survivors hospitalized in the neighboring Dominican Republic yesterday, and a UN rep says she is traveling to Haiti today, the AP reports. During yesterday's hospital visit Jolie, accompanied by a UN rep, "spoke...

Brangelina Donate $1M to Haiti
 Brangelina Donate $1M to Haiti 

Brangelina Donate $1M to Haiti

Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie help Doctors Without Borders after earthquake

(Newser) - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie quickly shifted into humanitarian mode following the earthquake in Haiti, donating $1 million through their charitable foundation. The funds will go to Doctors Without Borders, People reports. “We understand the first response is critical to serve the immediate needs of countless people who are...

Fans Want Nobel Peace Prize for Jackson

(Newser) - Fans of Michael Jackson are pushing for a Nobel Peace Prize nod for the late pop star. 12,000 have signed various online petitions putting the singer up for the honor because of his “lifelong dedication to the well-being of humanity,” and one organizer hopes for 100,000...

Gates Urges Companies to Get Creative to Improve Lives

He ruminates on how to tweak market forces to help more people

(Newser) - Bill Gates tweaks his corporate colleagues with an essay in Time urging businesses to look harder for ways to extend the benefits of capitalism to a greater portion of the global population. As a philanthropist, he says, he recognizes the need for nonprofit work, but as a businessman, he knows...

Helping Hands Often Hurt: Study
Helping Hands Often Hurt: Study

Helping Hands Often Hurt: Study

Harvard researchers recommend steps to improve impact of global aid

(Newser) - Disaster response can be a damaging force when aid isn't applied intelligently and in an organized fashion, a Harvard researcher tells LiveScience. A study by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative found incidences of spoiled food, haphazardly administered medicine, and donated clothes appropriate for neither culture nor climate. The study calls on...

Yahoo Settles With Chinese Journalists

After turning over data, it will pay 2 men jailed by Beijing

(Newser) - One week after being labeled moral “pygmies” in a House hearing, Yahoo settled a lawsuit  brought by two Chinese journalists jailed when the Internet giant turned over their personal data to Beijing. The two men, now serving 10-year sentences on charges of leaking state secrets, sued Yahoo for providing...

Evangelicals Sway Toward the Center
Evangelicals Sway Toward the Center

Evangelicals Sway Toward the Center

New generation prays for Darfur, against climate change, though abortion lingers

(Newser) - The once hard-right Evangelical Christian movement is waxing centrist, the New York Times reports, as a new breed of religious leaders breaks from an abortion-and-sexuality-obsessed old guard to tackle broader nonpartisan issues like AIDS, and even liberal-leaning ones like Darfur and global warming. 

Google Earth Digitizes Genocide
Google Earth Digitizes Genocide

Google Earth Digitizes Genocide

Internet tool used to raise awareness of atrocities in Sudan

(Newser) - Google Earth has teamed up with the Holocaust Museum to bring the realities of genocide to your MacBook. "Crisis in Darfur" employs Google Earth wizardry to help users visualize the scope of the atrocities currently unfolding in Sudan. Viewers can see over 1,600 damaged and destroyed villages up...

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