wfn.org | UMCOR sends second shipment to Mozambique

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

March 3, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom*(212)870-3803*New York
10-21-31-71B{117}

By United Methodist News Service

As a developing cyclone posed a new threat to flood-ravaged Mozambique, the
United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) dispatched a second shipment of
relief supplies to the African country.

The 15-ton shipment left March 1 and is expected to arrive at Mozambique
within six weeks, said the Rev. Bob Osgood, based at the UMCOR Depot in
Baldwin, La. The shipment includes more than 7,000 health kits, 150 bedding
packs, 150 home care kits, 3,300 emergency ration bars, 48,000 doses of oral
re-hydration salts, more than 200,000 servings of dehydrated potatoes and
3,000 units of mosquito netting.

UMCOR's first shipment was expected to arrive at any time in the capital of
Maputo, Osgood added, in a March 2 telephone interview. The shipment was
flown to southern Africa and was being transported by land to United
Methodist officials in Mozambique, he said. UMCOR also has sent $80,000 to
help with relief efforts.

By conservative estimates, more than 800,000 people in southern Africa have
been affected by floods resulting from rains and Cyclone Eline. Several
cities are reported to be under water in Mozambique, including Chokwe and
Xai-Xai in Gaza Province, Machanga and Buzi in Sofala Province, and Novi
Mambone in Inhambane Province.

A Feb. 29 helicopter inspection of damage by Action By Churches Together
(ACT) -- an ecumenical coalition of relief agencies that includes UMCOR -
showed that Xai Xai, for example, resembled a huge lake, with only radio
masts and a few higher buildings rising above the water. Entire
neighborhoods and thousands of huts had disappeared.

While helicopter rescue efforts continued, the BBC reported that as of March
3, tens of thousands of Mozambicans remained stranded by the floodwaters.
Government ministers from Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe
were to meet in Pretoria, South Africa, to discuss coordinated relief
efforts.

The Rev. Paul Dirdak, UMCOR's chief executive, said he had heard that two
well-known United Methodist mission projects, Chicuque Hospital and the
Cambine Mission, had not suffered flood damage.

Carol Kreamer was among the volunteers working at the UMCOR Depot when the
second shipment was dispatched. She is director of the Mozambique Initiative
of the two United Methodist annual (regional) conferences in Missouri. 

Churches in that state have made a 10-year covenant with the United
Methodist Church in Mozambique, matching each of that country's more than
130 congregations with a congregation in Missouri. "They try to communicate
and know the needs and share prayer concerns," Kreamer said.
 
Each partner church contributes $900 annually for the pastor's salary and
administrative costs and $1,200 to support the district superintendents in
Mozambique.

Although Mozambique - still recovering from a long civil war -- remains one
of the poorest countries in Africa, it was beginning to improve
economically. But recovery from the current flooding, the worst in memory,
will take at least 10 years, Kreamer said.

She is beginning to learn of some United Methodist churches and districts
that have been seriously affected by floodwaters, she said. Missouri
churches already have begun to take special offerings for the flood relief
efforts, and Kreamer hopes to have a special Sunday designated to stimulate
widespread donations.

Dirdak said UMCOR would continue its relief shipments to Mozambique as funds
become available through donations. Checks may be written to UMCOR,
designated to Advance No. 156500-0, and earmarked for either Mozambique or
South Africa. 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.  

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United Methodist News Service
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