wfn.org | United Methodists issue churchwide appeal for Mozambique

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

March 10, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-21-31-71B{135}

By United Methodist News Service

United Methodists issued a churchwide appeal on March 10 for donations to
assist the estimated quarter of a million people displaced by widespread
flooding in Mozambique.

The appeal, made through the denomination's Council of Bishops and General
Council on Finance and Administration, also will be used to help flood
victims in nearby nations. Funds raised by Advance No. 156500-0 will be used
to provide relief and rehabilitation for the general population and to
repair and reconstruct church buildings and other church-related property.

Joaquim Chissano, president of Mozambique, estimates that 2 million people
have been affected in one way or another by the flooding. In a New York
Times report, Georgia Shaver, regional manager of the United Nations World
Food Programme, said that 100 tons of food must be delivered every day to
feed the 250,000 crowded into 72 makeshift camps, mostly in southern and
central Mozambique. Heavy rains were hampering that effort.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), Church World Service (CWS)
of the National Council of Churches and Action by Churches Together (ACT)
are among many relief agencies transporting food and supplies to Mozambique.

On March 9, the UMCOR Depot in Baldwin, La., dispatched a third shipment of
relief supplies for Mozambique. The 15-ton shipment, which will arrive
within six weeks, is similar to one that left the depot a week earlier,
according to the Rev. Bob Osgood. Among the items included are health kits,
bedding packs, home care kits, emergency ration bars, dehydrated potatoes,
oral re-hydration salts and mosquito netting.

Although delivery is not immediate, Osgood noted that the displaced citizens
of Mozambique will need assistance for a long time to come. "Their food
issues are going to be long-term," he said.

Bishop Joao Somane Machado of the United Methodist Church in Mozambique has
requested special prayers for the people of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane and
Sofala. The United Methodist parishes reported to be most seriously affected
by the flooding are Mambone (Inhambane North District), Xai-Xai, Nataniel
Bahule and Chokwe (Gaza District), Sabie, Xinavane, Moamba, Matola, Machava
and Liberdade (Maputo West District) and some areas of Mahlangalene (Maputo
East District).

Carol Kreamer, coordinator of the Mozambique Initiative for United Methodist
churches in Missouri, received word on March 6 that Cambine Mission Station
was in good shape but lacked diesel fuel to run a generator. Chicuque
Hospital also lacked diesel, gasoline, propane and food items, and could not
be reached by vehicle because of damage to the dirt road.

The Christian Council of Mozambique has made plans to set up an operations
network that extends as far as possible in flood-affected provinces. The
council also is mobilizing church members to help distribute donated food
and collect information about flood victims with special needs.

UMCOR is also appealing to United Methodists to give generously to its
annual "One Great Hour of Sharing" offering on Sunday, April 2. That annual
offering provides the financial backbone for the relief agency.

Checks for the Mozambique relief efforts may be written to UMCOR, designated
to Advance No. 156500-0. Checks can be placed in church collection plates or
mailed directly to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
Credit-card donations can be made by calling (800) 554-8583.

The UMCOR Depot also has an urgent need for donations of health kits to ship
to Mozambique and other parts of the world. More information is available by
calling (800) 814-8765.

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United Methodist News Service
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