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September 12 Update:
UMCOR Responds to National Disaster
Council of Bishops Issues Call for Prayer
Spiritual Resources
An extensive drought has caused vast damage to farming regions in Central America. The affected areas include the Northwestern provinces of Nicaragua, the Eastern region of El Salvador, and Western and Southern parts of Honduras. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected and the situation is becoming critical as harvest season begins. Between 70% and 95% of the crops in these areas have been destroyed. UMCOR is working through various ecumenical partners to provide immediate food relief, and seeds, fertilizer, and technical assistance to replant crops. The peasants who have lost their crops have previously faced losses from Hurricane Mitch, El Niño and La Niña, and two earthquakes. Many children are already suffering severe malnutrition. Please give generously to UMCOR Advance #501300-0, Central America Emergency.
The flooding in Houston from Tropical Storm Allison has caused damage that is comparable to that of North Carolina after Hurricane Floyd. 112,000 families have applied for federal assistance. Forty percent of these are considered to be low-income. Although this is one of the largest disasters in U.S. history, funds to respond have been slow to come in. The available resources cannot begin to address the needs. Please join in this response by giving to Hurricanes 2001, Advance #982350. Volunteers are urgently needed. For more information, call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100.
Violent, torrential rain caused by two typhoons in early July resulted in catastrophic flooding in four provinces in China. UMCOR has sent a grant to the Amity Foundation in China, which will help provide food, quilts, mosquito nets and housing for 2500 families. Your gifts to International Disaster Response, Advance #982450 make this response possible.
As peace efforts continue in the Democratic Republic of Congo, more and more displaced people are able to return home. Upon returning they must rebuild their lives. UMCOR has sent a grant to the North Katanga Annual Conference to provide medicine, food and tents. Please support this ongoing response by giving to UMCOR Advance #198400-0, Democratic Republic of Congo Emergency.
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.)
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.