01.04.26 – Reiner Braun, Berlin – International Peace Bureau – English and German
Military strike against Iran: Without this U.S. air base in Germany, the attack would not have been possible.
An incomplete compilation by Reiner Braun (IPB)
Weeks before the illegal war of aggression by the USA and Israel against Iran on 28 February 2026, there were numerous indications of its preparation. There was intense activity at Ramstein Air Base. Transport aircraft of the types Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed C-130 Hercules were landing and taking off “every minute”, according to the portal austrianwings.info; in between, civilian Boeing 747 freighters of Atlas Air on behalf of the US military.
This was the logistical choreography of a war being fought thousands of kilometres away – but hardly conceivable in this form without the Palatinate hub.
The Mariana Islands are facing a severe humanitarian emergency following the impact of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, a Category 4 storm that struck the region last April 14. As communities begin the long and difficult recovery process, the full extent of the devastation is becoming clear.
The storm swept across the entire archipelago, with Saipan and Tinian experiencing the strongest impact, facing winds of up to 170 mph. Rota and Guam were also significantly affected, with winds reaching up to 80 mph. Moving slowly, the typhoon lingered for over 50 hours, bringing record rainfall and widespread flooding.
Impact on Communities
Homes destroyed and infrastructure severely damaged
Power lines down; thousands without electricity and running water
Over 800 people in emergency shelters in Guam
More than 500 displaced in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI)
Injuries reported, with some residents still trapped
This is a moment of deep loss and uncertainty for communities across the islands.
Support Community-Led Response
Local organizations, including Common Wealth 670 in Saipan and Prutehi Guåhan, have mobilized quickly to support affected families. They have created a directory for direct aid, allowing supporters to contribute directly to those impacted.
Direct mutual aid is critical at this time to ensure resources reach communities quickly and equitably.
Why Your Support Matters
In the aftermath of disasters, recovery efforts can become centralized or controlled in ways that may not fully meet community needs. Supporting grassroots initiatives helps strengthen local resilience and ensures aid reaches those who need it most.
If you are aware of funding opportunities, partnerships, or rapid response resources that could support local organizations, please get in touch.
Stand in Solidarity
With limited internet and cell service, communication remains challenging. While efforts are underway to deliver essential supplies, direct financial support remains one of the most effective ways to help.
Now more than ever, solidarity and mutual aid are essential—not only for recovery, but for building long-term resilience.
Terry Rockefeller was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Terry Rockefeller is based in the USA and is the Co-chair of the Rule of Law Committee of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows. The committee’s focus is on closing the detention facilities on the Guantanamo Naval Base and ending the extrajudicial military commissions that have failed to deliver justice and accountability for the crimes of 9/11. Peaceful Tomorrows is part of a coalition of organizations that advocate for human rights and security with the U.S. government and through UN structures.
She is on the Board of Directors of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security. SHe is the National Co-convenor of United for Peace and Justice, a network of national and local, peace, disarmament, social and economic justice organizations in the U.S. She is a 40+ year member of Amnesty International—USA, where she focuses on the work of the Security with Human Rights Co-group. (She served on the Board of Directors from 2013-19.
She is an award-winning documentary film producer. She had the honor of working on Eyes on the Prize, a history of the civil rights and black power movements, and the NOVA science series, among other productions for public television.
Sahlim Charles was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Sahlim Charles Amambia is a Kenyan peacebuilding practitioner, non-violent leadership advocate and global dialoguefacilitator working at the intersection of faith, youth leadership, social cohesion and community-driven peace processes.
He is the Founder and Executive Director of Re-Imagining New Communities, a grassroots-led peacebuilding organization advancing child-centered peace education, interfaith collaboration, and participatory dialogue across Kenya and beyond.
Sahlim’s work is distinguished by its ability to connect local community realities with global policy conversations. Drawing from lived experiences and years of community engagement, he has helped design participatory peacebuilding approaches that equip children, youth leaders, educators, faith communities, and security actors with practical tools for mediation, conflict transformation, and inclusive leadership.
He has contributed to international policy and dialogue platforms including the International Religious Freedom Summit in Washington DC, the World Summit for Social Development in Doha, the G20 Interfaith Forum, and the United Nations High-Level Political Forum in New York, where he has spoken on the role of faith communities, education systems, and youth leadership in strengthening cohesive and resilient societies.
As a Master Trainer in Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution with the United States Institute of Peace, Sahlim has mentored and trained emerging peacebuilders across multiple regions including Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
His facilitation work spans various actors seeking to strengthen conflict-sensitive leadership and community engagement practices.
His work integrates participatory action research, dialogue facilitation, and strategic storytelling to elevate community knowledge within global peacebuilding practice. He has collaborated with institutions including the Media Council of Kenya, FAO, Princeton Theological Seminary, IFPRI, and the Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers, contributing to initiatives that bridge research, policy, and grassroots action.
Sahlim’s leadership reflects a long-term commitment to cultivating societies where children, youth, and faith communities become architects of peaceful coexistence, translating community wisdom into practical models that inform international conversations on peace, development, and human dignity.
Sergio Bassoli was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Sergio Bassoli is based in Italy. He is a CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour) senior expert on voluntary bases on peace dossiers, and the Coordinator of the Executive of Rete Italiana Pace e Disarmo (Italian Network for Peace and Disarmament).
Nathaniel Msen Awuapila was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Nathaniel Msen Awuapila is based in Nigeria. He is the President of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), one of Africa’s leading professional peacebuilding organizations.
Mina Damnjanović was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Mina Damnjanović is a long-standing peace activist from Serbia, now based in Berlin. She is affiliated with Women in Black in Serbia and an engaged member of WILPF International (Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom). She is the co-founder and program coordinator of the Initiative against sexual violence “I trust You” in Belgrade.
Miguel Álvarez Gandara was elected as an IPB Council member in October 2025.
Miguel Álvarez Gandara is based in Mexico. In 1996 he co-founded SERAPAZ – the abbreviation SERAPAZ has got a double meaning: Services and Advices for Peace and also There will be peace. It is a Mexican civil society and non-for-profit organization, independent from the state, political parties, corporations and any other actors. In 2017 Miguel received the prestigious Premio Nacional de Derechos Humanos (National Human Rights Award).
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