wfn.org | Re: United Methodist Daily News note 3201

[owner-umethnews@ecunet.org]

"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (3257 notes).

Note 3256 by UMNS on Oct. 28, 1996 at 16:08 Eastern (4483 characters).

[BTITLE: UMCOR Relief Partner with U.N.
SEARCH:UMCOR, relief agencies, Bosnia
Produced by United Methodist News Service, official news agency of
the United Methodist Church, with offices in Nashville, Tenn., New
York, and Washington.

CONTACT:  Linda Bloom                        542(10-21-71BP){3256}
          New York (212)870-3803                     Oct. 29, 1996

(Part 1 of 2)

With government funding, UMCOR
greatly expands project work

                        A UMNS News Feature
                          by Linda Bloom*

     Over the past 50 years, United Methodists have funneled an
impressive amount of money through the denomination's relief
agency to address the world's disasters -- both natural and human-
created.
     After three years of cleanup and rehabilitation from 1992's
Hurricane Andrew, for example, $5.25 million had been spent, a
figure that does not include time donated by more than 8,300
volunteers.
     In an earlier time, from 1979-80, United Methodists responded
to the horror of Pol Pot's "killing fields" in Cambodia by
donating more than $5 million -- one of the largest appeals ever 
-- to assist an ecumenical reconstruction effort.
     Millions more have been allotted to everything from the last
devastating southern California earthquake -- in January 1994 --
to the continuing effort to help refugees from Rwanda and Burundi
who remain in camps in Zaire.
     But nothing compares to the breadth of the present-day
operations of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).
     This year, according to the Rev. Kenneth Lutgen, its chief
executive, UMCOR has handled an estimated $58 million through
contracted relief and reconstruction work -- including $38 million
in Bosnia alone.
     Staff at its recently-opened emergency services and
development office in the Washington D.C. area, led by F. Lloyd
Rollins, assistant general secretary for emergency response,
monitor the programs and handle payroll for 350 contract staff in
various countries.
     UMCOR's transition from a respectable relief agency relying
solely on denominational funds to a well-known contender for
lucrative United Nations and governmental contracts began in 1993.
During their winter meeting, UMCOR directors established a mission
initiative project to look at other funding sources for emergency
services and development programs.
     That May, Lutgen traveled to Bosnia to see whether the
agency's model of community-based training and leadership
development would be usable in that setting. Lutgen said he
"found, surprisingly, the U.N. was very open to that kind of
approach." UMCOR began work on a refugee housing project and
developed a relationship with the United Nations High Commission
on Refugees.
     Over the same period, UMCOR officials looked at how other
religious-based relief organizations operated. The Lutheran and
Roman Catholic agencies, for instance, were working on U.N. and
government-funded projects in Liberia. "The only reason we
couldn't is we chose not to," Lutgen said.
     Then UMCOR became an "implementing partner" on relief work
with the World Council of Churches. Part of the source of funds
for that work came from European governments, he added.
     Since that time, the number and size of contracts the agency
has received has grown substantially -- along with its reputation.
Now, instead of seeking funding, according to Lutgen, "the donor
agencies come to us."
     In early 1996, UMCOR was awarded the first half of a $30
million project to rebuild homes for returning refugees throughout
the Bosniac-Croat Federation, making it the largest implementing
partner there for the United Nations. The second $15 million has
been received since.
     Other 1996 projects in Bosnia included:
     * $6.3 million grant from the U.S. Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance, also to rehabilitate houses for returning families.
     * $2.3 million grant from the same agency for water
sanitation improvements.
     * $1.7 million emergency response grant from the State
Department for distribution of food, clothing, blankets, hygiene
kits, and medicines.
     * $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) to rehabilitate a hospital in Gornji Vakuf.
     UMCOR also has contract projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Haiti, West Africa and Zaire.

                             #  #  # 

     * Bloom is director of the New York Office of United
Methodist News Service.  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

 To make suggestions or give your comments, send a note to 
 umns@ecunet.org or Susan_Peek@ecunet.org

 To unsubscribe, send the single word "unsubscribe" (no quotes)
 in a mail message to umethnews-request@ecunet.org

-----------------------------------------------------------------------