UMCOR continues to respond to the devastation caused by Hurricane Mitch in Central America. Accurate numbers regarding victims will never be known, but official reports indicate that more than 6,000 have died in Honduras, nearly 6,000 are still missing and almost one and a half million people are homeless. The official death toll in Nicaragua is 4,000 and more than half a million people are homeless. Hundreds of people lost their lives in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico as well.

UMCOR is working through our church partners CCD, the Christian Commission on Development, in Honduras and CEPAD, the Council of Evangelical Churches, in Nicaragua. UMCOR is also working with several United Methodist missionaries in the area who are carrying out relief efforts. Emergency grants have been sent to our partners in both countries, and UMCOR is sending shipments of food and medicines immediately. UMCOR disaster response consultants are currently in Honduras and Nicaragua.

The most effective way to respond to victims of Hurricane Mitch is through a financial gift. You may give to UMCOR's Hurricanes 98, Advance #982515-0. Funds are used to assist victims of both Georges and Mitch. Your gift will be used where it is most needed, or you may designate it for a specific country.

Material resources are being accepted at the UMCOR Depot, but they cannot be designated for a specific country. Call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765 for shipping instructions. Persons interested in volunteering in the coming months may call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100.

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.

The photos of Hurricane Mitch's devastation of Honduras ia courtesy of Luis F. Bueso lbueso@netsys.hn.

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