The UMCOR Hotline

January 16, 2001

UMCOR is responding to the earthquake in El Salvador through the Methodist Church in El Salvador and ACT (Action by Churches Together, the relief and development arm of the World Council of Churches).

A staff member of the General Board of Global Ministries was in El Salvador when the earthquake struck and has been able to facilitate conversations between UMCOR staff and the President of the Methodist Church in El Salvador. Though small, the local church has effectively organized for disaster response in San Salvador and Ahuachapan, and church members are addressing the basic needs of people who have been displaced by the earthquake. The President of the Methodist Church is currently traveling in the affected areas to assess the damage and needs.

UMCOR is sending financial grants to ACT and the Methodist Church in El Salvador to provide humanitarian relief. UMCOR is also sending an international disaster response consultant who will assist in assessing the damage and developing plans for response and recovery.

General Board of Global Ministries staff have also been in contact with Methodist Church leaders in Guatemala, who will contact us later this week if they need assistance.

To respond to this emergency, please give to UMCOR Advance #511447 "El Salvador Earthquake." We have not received requests for material resources for this emergency, however the UMCOR Depot needs to replenish its stock of health kits so we will be prepared to send them to El Salvador or other places when requested. For instructions on assembling and shipping health kits, please call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765 or visit the UMCOR website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.html. If there is a request for material resources or volunteers in the coming weeks we will post that information here.

Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)

Please pray for those whose who have lost loved ones, homes and belongings in this disaster.

Further Information

• UMCOR: El Salvador Earthquake
• United Methodists Assisting El Salvador Earthquake Victims