INTRODUCTION TO COERR.
CATHOLICOFFICEFOREMERGENCY
RELIEFANDREFUGEES
(COERR)
1. THE ORGANIZATION AND ITS OBJECTIVES
The Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees (COERR) was established by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand (CBCT) in 1978 as a Thai non-governmental organization (NGO).
From its inception, COERR's main objectives have been to provide emergency relief to victims of natural disasters; render assistance to refugees and displaced persons; and help Thai nationals and their communities affected by forced migration into Thailand. Since July 1992, COERR has also assisted the poor and unfortunate people of Cambodia. COERR's activities are based upon a humanitarian ethos and the principles of Christian charity and solidarity All assistance is provided regardless of beneficiaries' color, creed, sex or political beliefs.
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2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
2.1 Emergency Relief
COERR's emergency relief activities target victims of natural disasters such as flooding, drought, cyclones, earthquakes, cold spell and fire. In these situations, COERR provides necessary assistance (such as food, clothes, medicines, and other relief supplies) which are administered according to the nature of the emergency and the particular needs of the community.
The policy of COERR is to provide assistance so that refugee's most basic needs are satisfied. In doing this, we aim to help relieve the suffering and deprivation, both physical and spiritual, of those people seeking asylum on Thai soil.
COERR renders basic services to refugees and displaced persons in an attempt to
- address emergency livelihood needs.Identify andAccordingly, COERR provides food, clothing, medicine, and shelter to those who may be starving, sick, dying, poor or homeless. For those refugees residing in camps, C0~RR provides basic social services, as well as many types of educational training courses, including vocational and skills training, language courses, and a variety of job-oriented training opportunities. In addtion, pastoral assistance is offered to address refugees' spiritual needs.- Prepare refugees for resettlement in third countries.
- Promote the self-reliance of refugees.
- And prepare refugees for returning to their country of origin if the conditions permit.
COERR assists both Indochinese and non-Indochinese refugees in Thailand. The Indochinese caseload comprises individuals from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, while non-Indochinese refugees consist predominantly of those who have fled Burma, including Karens, Mons, Karennis and Burmese students.
Thai nationals, especially villagers living in regions close to Thailand's borders with Cambodia, Laos, and Burma, are often affected by large-scale influxes of refugees into Thailand both on its eastern and western frontiers. Thai villagers are often affected directly by intensive fighting in neighbouring countries. In certain instances, Thai villagers have been wounded or killed by rockets, shells and landmines along the border areas. In response to this situation, COERR has targeted assistance to these affected populations by implementing projects designed to meet each community's specific needs and circumstances such as sponsorship program, food for school children, skills training, mobile medical unit, assistance to the elders and the handicapped.
Since late 1960's over three decades of war, political conflicts, suffering and killing have turned Cambodia into one of the poorest countries in the world. Four out of ten Cambodians live in poverty and the situation is worse in rural areas. This is reflected by high infant and under-5 mortality rates, limited access to health and educational services, inadequate sanitation and potable water. To help rehabilitate Cambodia, COERR has extended its assistance projects to reach poor people in the northeastern and northwestern provinces since July 1992. COERR's various activities include emergency relief assistance, health development, education, skills training, elderly care center and digging of artesian wells.
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