wfn.org | United Methodist volunteer teams postpone trips to Haiti

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

Feb. 17, 2004 News media contact: Linda Bloom7(646) 369-37597New York7E-mail:
newsdesk@umcom.org 7  ALL-I-AA {063}

By Elliott Wright*

NEW YORK (UMNS) - United Methodist Volunteers in Mission teams visits  to
Haiti in the immediate future are being cancelled or postponed because of
growing unrest and violence in that country. 

As of Feb. 16, teams already in Haiti were safe, according to reports from
personnel of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries. 

One team working outside the capital of Port-au-Prince had decided on its own
to remain until Feb. 23, conditions permitting. The capital was reported calm
and another volunteer team was expected to depart from there to the United
States Feb.17.
	
Haiti is one of the most popular destinations for volunteer mission teams
from the United States. In a typical year, 80 teams made up of some 700
people go there through United Methodist Volunteers in Mission.

The Rev. R. Randy Day, chief executive at the Board of Global Ministries,
said the mission agency is "deeply concerned" about the violence and
political instability in Haiti. The board and its relief arm, the United
Methodist Committee on Relief, are monitoring developments in Haiti from a
humanitarian perspective in the event that relief and refugee services might
be needed.

Violent opposition to the administration of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide exploded in mid-February after having smoldered for a long time.
Leaders of the Methodist Church of Haiti reported Feb 16 deteriorating
political conditions.
 
In collaboration with the Haitian church, the agency operates a guesthouse in
Haiti for mission volunteers, coordinated by Charles Maddox, a board
missionary.

Day expressed appreciation to Maddox and President Raphael Dessieu of the
Methodist Church of Haiti for their attention to the welfare of the volunteer
teams and their efforts to keep the board informed of the general situation
on the island.
 
"Our prayers are with our volunteer teams, the Methodist people of Haiti and
all the citizens of that poor and often troubled land," Day said. "May God
grant healing and peace to Haiti."
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*Elliott Wright is a communications consultant for the United Methodist Board
of Global Ministries

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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