Date: August 1st 2007

Hi, it is time that we resume communications, because we have something to say .

---On May 3rd a delegation from Emergency, USA participated to the inauguration of the Salam Center for Cardiac Surgery in Khartoum. The first patient , Sunia, a 14 years girl from the refugee camp in Mayo, was operated for a heart valve replacement. Since then, patients from several neighbouring African countries are already crowding the wards of the Salam center.

---Many people rejoyced both in Afghanistan and in Italy when Rahmatullah Hanefi , the humanitarian operator who helped in the negotiations for the liberation of kidnapped journalist Mastrogiacomo, was released on June 19 and fully acquitted after about three months of arrest without charges. Emergency has gradually resumed its medical and surgical activities in most of its facilities in Afghanistan.


---We have engaged an IT professional who is familiar with Non profit organizations needs, to develop Emergency, USA 's INTRANET. That would greatly help us to stay connected, communicate, share best practices and more

---The Chicago group of volunteers has been particularly active during the month of July with conferences , presentations and GrandRounds promoting the work of Emergency at Loyola center for Women, UIC and Heartland Cafe'.

--- A delegation from University of Illinois at Chicago School of Nursing will visit Nicaragua in August
The delegates will meet with Emergency personnel in Leon -already there supervising the construction site- and prepare a needs assessment to sustain grant applications and fundraising back in the US.

--- The Pittsburgh group of volunteers has set up a Emergency booth at the 1st Greater Pittsburgh DiversCITY Festival on the theme "Emergency - A diverse support to civilians war victims , around the world"

--- A delegation from Chicago, Washington DC, New York, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, will participate to Emergency's National Volunteer gathering in Orvieto, Italy , mid September.

--- PLans are under way to organize an "Emergency day" in any city where we have a presence around October 27. It will be a day of awarenees, fundraising and dialogue about Emergency's humanitarian activities around the world. Detailed information will follow.

alberto.colombi@emergencyusa.org