wfn.org | Working Together to Respond in Venezuela

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

21-December-1999 
99434 
 
    Working Together to Respond in Venezuela 
 
    by Susan Ryan 
 
    Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has provided an immediate gift 
of $10,000 to support a Church World Service response of blankets and 
mattresses to 800 persons who have been evacuated to the town of 
Baraquisimeto. 
 
     Plans are now in motion for PDA to provide funding for a team of two 
leaders from Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras to 
provide support and assistance to the churches in Venezuela as they make 
the logistical arrangements to receive and distribute relief goods and 
begin planning for reconstruction and rehabilitation. It is critical in 
times of disaster that immediate aid is planned with a long-term vision for 
disaster mitigation work and appropriate rehabilitation based on sound 
development principles. The skills, experience, language and cultural 
sensitivity of CCD staff will be a real blessing to the churches in 
Venezuela as they try and cope with the enormous dimensions of this 
tragedy. PDA will respond generously as they begin to articulate their 
monetary and material aid needs. 
 
    Getting a fix on how to respond and move supplies is a real challenge, 
one that CCD faced in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Major road networks 
have been washed out, and the airport in Caracas is not operative. The 
government of Venezuela has declared that at least 10,000 have died, 
Reuters reported  that the final death toll could be more than 20,000, far 
surpassing the death toll from last year's Hurricane Mitch in Central 
America, in which more than 9,000 were killed. 
 
    PDA and the Worldwide Ministries Division have sent letters of concern 
and extended willingness to provide immediate response to the Presbyterian 
Church of Venezuela and to our mission workers in the country, Carlos and 
Deborah Clugy-Soto. They have specifically asked for prayers for a church 
in Cupira that was completely covered by water. Christians in the country 
are hard at work supporting immediate relief work by staffing collection 
centers and providing caring support to displaced survivors. Children 
without parents are being cared for in schools and churches. 
 
    The President of AIPRAL (the Association of Presbyterian and Reformed 
Churches in Latin America) writes, "Please receive my wishes for a Merry 
Christmas to all, even though for us it will be a sad Christmas, but one of 
continued hope in the Lord of Life." 
 
    Contributions to the response in Venezuela can be sent through normal 
receiving channels or to Central Receiving Services, Section 300, 
Louisville, KY 40289. Checks should be made out to the Presbyterian Church 
USA and show account #9-2000144 Venezuela. Gifts by credit card can be made 
through the www.pcusa.org Web site. 

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