June 19, 1998

Thank you for calling the United Methodist Committee on Relief Hotline, Friday, June 19, 1998.

UMCOR has established a new Advance for Indonesia Emergency Response. The number is 217400-8. Drought, a struggling economy and civil unrest have contributed to conditions of hardship for much of the population. UMCOR has sent a grant for humanitarian relief, and a team of UMCOR staff members and consultants will be traveling to Indonesia in August. They will meet with the Bishop and other church and community leaders to develop ways to respond to this crisis. Potential programs include the development of micro-enterprise projects to generate income.

Over the past month there has been renewed fighting along the border of the Republic of Georgia and the province of Abhkazia. Hundreds have died on each side and estimates are that 30,000 people have been displaced from their homes. The UMCOR staff in Georgia are working with ACT: Action by Churches Together to respond to this crisis by providing humanitarian relief to displaced persons. You may join in this response by giving to UMCOR's Armenia and Georgia Emergency Advance #250225-8, and designate your gift Georgia Emergency Relief.

The Refugee Unit of UMCOR is seeking a church or churches willing to consider sponsoring a Vietnamese family. The father is 63 years old and currently needing a wheel chair as reconstructive surgery is needed on his right foot. He is accompanied by his wife (57 yrs) two teenage children (14, 17) and a young adult daughter. (20) Without relatives or friends in the U.S., they need the friendship and care of a sponsoring church (or churches). For more information about this case or on the resettlement program, contact the UMCOR Refugee unit at 212-870-3806.