The UMCOR team in Macedonia continues to assist large numbers of refugees returning to Kosovo. Many residents in Kosovo are still without electricity, water, or telephones. Relief shipments (food and hygiene kits) through ACT (Action by Churches Together) have been delivered to Kosovo. UMCOR is planning to distribute land mine awareness information packets along with hygiene kits. UMCOR volunteers will prepare the information packets in Skopje, and distribute them in Macedonia. In the coming months, ACT partners will assist with rehabilitating and rebuilding homes and other buildings and providing water and sanitation. UMCOR is currently assessing the development of a program to help with the needs of women and children and to support efforts to help war victims. ACT and UMCOR are committed to assist people of all ethnic groups in the area. Please continue your support of UMCOR's International Disaster Response, #982450-8 in this ongoing crisis. Give through your local United Methodist Church or call (800) 554-8583 to make a credit card donation.

The UMCOR assessment team in Mexico reports that recovery efforts are well-organized. The church and the government are working together to respond to those affected by the earthquake. There continues to be a need to repair and rebuild damaged residencies, and case management of residents affected by the earthquake. Your gifts to International Disaster Response, #982450-8 make it possible for UMCOR to respond quickly in critical situations.

UMCOR is responding to a request made for $25,000 to go to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, following the tornado which hit the region last month.

Annual Conferences continue to collect and send health, sewing, school, kitchen, and layette kits. The North Georgia Annual Conference prepared 2,500 health kits for Kosovar refugees, and the Pennsylvania-Delaware Conference received 3,000 emergency relief kits from 91 churches. Volunteers are needed at the UMCOR Depot to process this bounty! Call the Depot volunteer line (800) 334-4221 for further information on this and other volunteer opportunities..

UMCOR is currently assigning Kosovar refugee cases where churches (in areas where CWS/UMCOR can resettle refugees) are ready to sponsor. Local congregations are urged to consider sponsorship and co-sponsorship needed for families from Kosovo and from Africa. For further information please see the UMCOR website at {http://gbgm-umc.org/global/refugees/resettle.html} or contact UMCOR's refugee office at 212-870-3807, fax: 212-870-3624.

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