wfn.org | UMNS# 04584-Churches respond as typhoons, floods pound

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

Churches respond as typhoons, floods pound Philippines 

Dec. 9, 2004	 News media contact:   Linda  Bloom * (646) 3693759*  New
York {04584}

NOTE: Related resources are available online at http://umns.umc.org.

By Linda Bloom

NEW YORK (UMNS) -- Churches and relief organizations are responding as
typhoons, floods and landslides have resulted in death and destruction in the
Philippines.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), sent grants to two of the
denomination's episcopal areas in the Philippines in response to recovery
efforts from typhoons earlier this season.

As of Dec. 8, the agency was waiting for information from United Methodists
there regarding response to the latest storm, which occurred Nov. 29,
according to David Sadoo, UMCOR field staff for emergency services. "These
latest ones are probably the worst," he said. "We're continuing to respond to
requests made by the conferences."

More than 1,750 people are dead or missing as a result of the storms,
according to a Dec. 9 report from Reuters news agency. The U.S. government
dispatched Marine and Navy personal on Dec. 7 from nearby Okinawa to the
Philippines to assist residents in the flood-ravaged areas.

Sadoo noted that Action by Churches Together (ACT), a coalition of interfaith
relief organizations, including UMCOR, has issued an alert on the Philippines
in preparation for formulating a bigger plan of response. "As soon as ACT
issues an appeal we will send some funds to them," he added.

According to ACT, the four typhoons spawned over a period of three weeks have
caused damage in at least five regions of the Philippines.

In addition to the fatalities, thousands are homeless. Extensive damage has
been reported to property and agriculture, as well as to major roads and
communication and power lines.

Staff of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines and Lutheran
World Relief, both ACT members, visited some of the most-affected villages -
Gabaldon, Nueve Ecija, and Dingalan, Aurora, on Dec. 9 to assess the
situation.

According to ACT, the team described Gabaldon as a "ghost town," with many
houses abandoned after being damaged by logs, stones, mud and debris. Many
residents of the villages are staying in evacuation centers.

On Dec. 3, ACT sent $40,000 to the council as an initial response so it could
provide food, potable water, sleeping mats, plastic sheets and light blankets
to at least 6,500 families in Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Bicol and the
National Capital Region.

Linda Beher, UMCOR's executive secretary for communications, reported that
funds are needed specifically to respond to relief efforts in the
Philippines. Gifts should be earmarked for UMCOR Advance No. 240235,
Philippines Emergency. Checks can be dropped in church collection plates or
mailed directly to UMCOR at 475 Riverside Dr., Suite 330, New York, NY 10115.
To make a credit card donation, call (800) 554-8583.

News media contact: Linda Bloom7(646) 369-37597New York7 E-mail:
newsdesk@umcom.org.

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United Methodist News Service