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May 11, 2001
As of today, it is still raining in Puerto Rico where many communities have been affected by flooding and mudslides. UMCOR staff have been in communication with the disaster response coordinator for the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico. She reports that the heaviest damage is in the southwestern part of the island where there are no Methodist Churches. This presents an additional challenge to their response, but they will work with local churches and community groups to provide assistance. Disaster response workers are attempting to assess the damage in spite of the continuing rain and will be meeting this weekend to make further plans for response and recovery. There is significant damage to homes, businesses, schools and agriculture. UMCOR anticipates that funds will be requested to assist in recovery. Please give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.
More than 3000 people who have fled the fighting in Lofa, Liberia over the past several weeks have sought refuge on the United Methodist Mission campus and other locations in Gbarnga. UMCOR has responded to a request from the Liberia Annual Conference with a grant that will be used to provide food for these displaced persons. Your ongoing support of UMCOR's International Disaster Response, Advance #982450 enables UMCOR to respond to such crises.
UMCOR is sending a grant to an ecumenical center in Great Britain to provide short-term assistance to farmers affected by the hoof and mouth crisis. Although the disease has been contained, many people who are dependent on farming for their livelihood continue to suffer from the loss of their livestock and other constraints imposed by the outbreak of the disease. Again, your gifts to International Disaster Response, Advance #982450 make it possible for UMCOR to respond to this and many other critical situations around the globe.
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.)
UMCOR is providing emergency relief in many areas at this moment, including: Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, the Middle East, Mozambique, Sudan, the United States and many other parts of the globe. For more information on these and other UMCOR ministries, please visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor
Please pray for those who suffer from hunger, poverty, natural and human-made disasters.
