UMCOR joins coalition rushing aid to Indonesia
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A UMNS photo by Mike DuBose
Residents of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, pick through debris left by the Dec. 26 tsunami. |
| Residents
of Banda Aceh, Indonesia, pick through debris left by the Dec. 26
tsunami. Photo #05-271. Accompanies UMNS #190, 4/1/05 |
April 1, 2005 By Linda Beher* NEW
YORK (UMNS)—The United Methodist Committee on Relief has joined an
ecumenical coalition shipping emergency aid to the Indonesian island of
Nias, which was hard hit by a March 28 earthquake. On
March 31, UMCOR, in partnership with Church World Service, sent 35
boxes of medicine, 14 boxes of gloves, 500 tents and 1,000 packages of
emergency supplies on a United Nations helicopter, together with a water
purification unit and other supplies. Both organizations are members of
Action by Churches Together, the international ecumenical alliance.
ACT
officials report that up to 85 percent of buildings on Nias were
damaged in the 8.7-magnitude quake. The army, police and survivors are
still trying to evacuate people from under the ruins of buildings and
houses. Complicating their work are impassable roads, the lack of heavy
lifting equipment and the small aftershocks that occur every few hours.
About 600 people are confirmed dead, but that number is expected to
rise.
UMCOR is launching long-term rehabilitation and
rebuilding projects in Indonesia in response to the March 28 earthquake
and Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami. Donors using a credit card may give
to UMCOR Advance #274305, “South Asia Emergency,” by calling a toll-free
number, (800) 554-8583. Checks can be dropped in church collection
plates or mailed to UMCOR at P.O. Box 9068, GPO, New York, NY
10087-9068. *Beher is communications director for the United Methodist Committee on Relief. News media contact: Linda Bloom, New York, (646) 369-3759 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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