| UMCOR provides assistance to typhoon survivors
 Dec. 5, 2006
NEW YORK (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Committee on Relief is
working with partners in the Philippines to provide immediate assistance
following Typhoon Durian.
The typhoon, which struck the Central Philippines on Dec. 1, triggered
landslides in Albay Province that left more than 500 people dead.
But with hundreds still missing, the Philippine National Red Cross
warned that the final death toll could be more than 1,000, according to
the Associated Press. The landslides buried villages on the slopes of
Mount Mayon, the country's most active volcano, 200 miles south of
Manila.
Disaster officials estimated that at least 40,000 people had been forced to flee their homes, the New York Times
reported, with more than 800,000 people affected in total. Some were
stranded in their homes, while others sought shelter in churches and
schools.
The Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR's chief executive, is in contact with the
United Methodist bishop in the affected region to provide needed
support.
"We want to assure the churches in the Philippines of our prayers and
support," he said, noting that UMCOR already had sent an emergency grant
toward relief and expects to send two more in the coming days.
In the last typhoon of this magnitude, churches in this region provided
shelter for survivors of other storms. Now, these church members are in
need of shelter themselves, according to Dirdak.
Cash gifts will help UMCOR continue to support the immediate relief and
long-term recovery of those affected by the Typhoon Durian. Checks can
be dropped in church offering plates or mailed directly to UMCOR, P.O.
Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write "UMCOR Advance #240235, Philippines
Emergency, Typhoon Durian," on the memo line of the check.
Credit card donations can be made at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ online or by calling, tollfree, (800) 554-8583.
News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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