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December 14, 2001: UMCOR continues to support the efforts of local United Methodist Churches and Annual Conferences as they respond to the recent tornadoes and floods that have swept across the South. Clean-up is underway in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. UMCOR has sent initial emergency response grants to Mississippi and North Alabama, and an UMCOR disaster response consultant is working with the Mississippi Annual Conference to assist with their response efforts and long-term recovery plans. Early Response Teams from the Tennessee Annual Conference are working in both the Memphis and the Mississippi Conferences to help with clean-up. UMCOR has also sent a grant to the Southwest Texas Conference to assist with recovery work following the recent floods in the Austin, Texas area. Please give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670 to join in these efforts.
Your gifts are needed to help with the long-term recovery work from this year's hurricanes. Tropical storms and hurricanes caused devastating flooding in areas of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Belize, Mexico, Cuba, the Bahamas, Texas, and Florida. UMCOR is sending additional funds to help with the ongoing rebuilding work in Houston, Texas, and has just received a request for funds from Honduras. Please continue your gifts to Hurricanes 2001, Advance #982350.
Thousands of people are fleeing renewed fighting in Lofa County, Liberia. These are people who were already displaced by war and living in camps. Relief groups have evacuated the camps as well and are searching for locations where they can establish new camps. Your gifts to UMCOR's International Disaster Response, Advance #982450 will enable UMCOR to respond to this crisis through our ecumenical partners in the area.
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 of the world and continues to respond to the tragedies of September 11 and their aftermath in the US and internationally. To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor.
In this season of Advent, please remember those who suffer from hunger, poverty, and disasters in your prayers and in your preparations to celebrate Jesus' birth.
Photo: Displaced Liberians wait in Belefanai, the town on the border between Lofa and Bong county. They must go through rigorous army scrutiny on the Lofa side of the bridge separating the two counties. Credit: ACT-LWF, Liberia Spring 2001.
