Hurricane Mitch has caused unprecedented destruction in Honduras and Nicaragua. Official death tolls are at least 5000 in Honduras and 1300 in Nicaragua, but the actual number of fatalities will be much higher. Unofficial reports indicate that tens of thousands are missing. Hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless. In both countries so many bridges and roads have been destroyed that communities are completely cut off.

UMCOR has sent initial emergency grants to several of our church partners in the area who are providing humanitarian relief. One UMCOR disaster consultant is currently in Honduras; another will be traveling to Nicaragua tomorrow. They will work with our church partners to assist with assessment and the development of relief and recovery plans.

UMCOR is sending a plane-load of food to Nicaragua this week, a ship filled with food for Honduras at the beginning of next week, and a planeload of medical supplies and medicines to Nicaragua. At this point, UMCOR is not able to accept individual donations of food, clothing or other relief supplies for victims. The most effective way to respond is through a financial gift that will enable UMCOR to purchase supplies in bulk quantities and ship them in the most time and cost efficient manner. As soon as our assessment teams advise us about the possibility for material resource donations, we will provide that information on the Hotline.

UMCOR continues to respond to victims of Hurricane Georges in the Caribbean and Gulf Coast states as well. An UMCOR staff member is currently in Haiti working with the Methodist Church of Haiti as they respond to victims there.

Please give generously to the Church Wide Appeal for Hurricanes 98, Advance #982515-0. UMCOR will need hundreds of thousands of dollars to effectively respond to this catastrophe. Your gift will be used where it is most needed as UMCOR responds to victims of these two hurricanes. Or, you may designate your gift for a specific country or annual conference.

Persons interested in volunteering may call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100. Volunteers are currently needed in the Gulf Coast states, and will be needed in coming months in Central America.

Please pray for those who have lost loved ones, homes, possessions and who will continue to suffer from the effects of this storm for months and even years to come.

Photos of Hurricane Mitch's devastation of Honduras are courtesy of Luis F. Buesolbueso@netsys.hn.

UMCOR Hotline:
Phone: 1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
E-mail: umcor@gbgm-umc.org