Telephone:1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
June 7, 2002: UMCOR has sent an additional grant to provide food for people suffering from famine in Malawi. This is part of the ongoing response to the famine in Southern Africa. The United Nations and other agencies are warning that this famine is going to be as bad or worse than the famine in Ethiopia in the 1980's. At least 10 million people are at risk. The famine has been caused by two years of poor harvests due to a variety of natural disasters, economic crises, and political mismanagement of grain supplies. This will be a long-term response as the food shortages are expected to continue until the next major harvest in April of 2003. Please give generously to UMCOR's Africa Famine Relief, Advance #101250-4.
In response to a request from the Detroit Conference, UMCOR has sent an emergency grant that will be used to assist people who were affected by flooding in Wakefield, Michigan in April. Since the area was not declared a federal disaster, there is no government assistance available to those whose homes were flooded. In West Virginia, United Methodists are working with local residents, agencies and other denominations to seek solutions to the difficult problems of recovery after the recent flooding. Because these homes and communities have been flooded so often they cannot be rebuilt as they were. There are many issues to work through and this will be a complicated recovery and community development process. Many areas of the United States have been struck by flooding and tornadoes this spring, and your gifts to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670-1 will ensure that UMCOR can provide long-term recovery assistance.
UMCOR is working through our ecumenical partners to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict and resulting economic collapse in Palestine. A grant has just been sent that will provide food and medicine. Please join in this response by giving to UMCOR's Middle East Emergency, Advance #601740-2.
Two grants have been sent to support relief work in Liberia. The funds will be used to provide assistance to internally displaced people who have fled the recent conflict and to provide health services for the next year to the 20,000 residents of Gbason Town through the Gbason Town health clinic. Your gifts to Liberia Emergency, Advance #150300-7 will continue to be needed for relief work and long-term war recovery.
Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. You can also make a a secure online gift at http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ .
UMCOR is providing emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ .
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.