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August 17, 2004
USA and Caribbean: UMCOR Responds After Charley Thrashes Coastal Areas
The worst storm on the Gulf Coast of Florida in 100 years, Hurricane Charley left a tumbled swath of splintered wood and twisted metal-the
destroyed homes, churches, and commercial buildings of south Florida
residents. Power outages are common, and in some areas the rule of
martial law is preventing access to areas considered unsafe. UMCOR
workers were in Florida as of Monday, August 16, to assess damage and
coordinate initial response. In hard-hit Punta Gorda UMCOR is advocating
on behalf of some survivors who have not yet received distributions of
bottled water, ice, and portable sanitation facilities.
Earlier last week, when Hurricane Charley roared through Havana province and the west side of Havana city in Cuba, severe winds and rains devastated some 40,000 homes, killed four people, and darkened many areas of the city. Soldiers are clearing trees and have organized teams of electrical workers to repair downed power lines. Some Havana residents are still without running water. UMCOR currently is assessing recovery interventions for Cuba as well as for other US coastal regions that will be affected by the violence of the storm.
The agency has put out an urgent call for flood buckets to replenish depleted stocks. Donors can locate a list of the cleaning supplies and shipping instructions online. UMCOR is urging volunteers to confirm that there is a job site to go to before setting out. The toll-free volunteer hotline is 1-800-918-3100. A special worship resource, "Hurricanes 2004," is available to download and print locally. Gifts of money are especially needed in these early phases of recovery. Please donate generously to UMCOR Advance #982410, Hurricanes 2004, and pray for the hurricane survivors in all the affected areas.
Bangladesh: Violent Weather Besieges Those With Few Resources
In Bangladesh floodwaters have displaced millions from their homes.
Although river levels there have dropped in the past two weeks, the lack
of clean drinking water has added to the woes of the region's flood
survivors. Across the water-logged areas, more than 1,700 people have
died from drowning and snakebite. Some now perish from water-borne
illnesses. UMCOR has provided a grant to Action by Churches Together to
deliver emergency food, plastic sheets, and medical assistance to 10,000
of the most vulnerable. Your gift to UMCOR Advance #982450,
International Disaster Response, can ensure ongoing recovery efforts
in the besieged areas.
Liberia: Vocational Training to Begin at 100 Monrovia Centers
Carpentry, tailoring, soap making, small engine repair, baking,
welding-these are some of the trade skills that will be offered in a new
$1.2 million program from UMCOR in Liberia. Some 1,300 former combatants
in the war-torn nation will benefit from this new venture. Participants
can engage in three main components: skills training through
apprenticeships with local artisans, literacy training, and small business management training. One hundred different training centers are
involved, all in the greater Monrovia area. Invited to attend the
official program launch in September are the chairman of the Republic of
Liberia, the UN Representative, the US Ambassador, and United Methodist
Bishop John Innis. Your generous gifts to UMCOR Advance #150300, Liberia Emergency, help to insure that UMCOR can continue to assist Liberia in its ongoing recovery.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
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.
