wfn.org | ABCUSA: American Baptists Respond to Devastation in Asia

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 12/30/04)--In the
aftermath of massive earthquakes and tsunamis (tidal waves) that have
killed over 114,000 people and caused enormous destruction across a
dozen countries in and around the Indian Ocean, International Ministries
and its partners are undertaking initial response efforts. 

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, $20,000 in undesignated contributions
has already been sent to support the relief efforts of Church World
Service, Baptist World Aid and partners in India and Thailand. 

"The magnitude of this disaster is difficult to comprehend," said World
Relief Officer Lisa Rothenberger of International Ministries' staff. "We
are just learning of the staggering needs and formulating the best
possible response at this time," Rothenberger said. "The post-crisis
phase of such an enormous disaster will last months, if not years, and
require extraordinary financial resources." Rothenberger encouraged all
American Baptists to give sacrificially now and throughout the coming
year in order to help alleviate the suffering. She said additional
relief contributions can be made through the One Great Hour of Sharing
offering and noted on local American Baptist churches' "Monthly Report
of Mission Giving" marked "OGHS--Asian Tsunami Tragedy." 

In Thailand, American Baptist missionaries Jeff and Annie Dieselberg
said nearly 1,000 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries had already been
reported in the southwestern coastal villages and island resorts of
Thailand. Jeff Dieselberg, director of the Urban Transformation Center
in Bangkok, said thousands of persons have been transported to that city
for medical attention. The Dieselbergs are helping to coordinate initial
relief efforts in Thailand, working with the Church of Christ of
Thailand and the Thailand Baptist Missionary Fellowship. 

Baptist World Aid allocated an initial $25,000 for relief work in the
affected countries. Of that amount, $5,000 in immediate aid was given to
cover expenses of a medical relief team from Hungarian Baptist Aid. The
team arrived in Sri Lanka Dec. 27 and will assist victims in the most
devastated areas with medicines and medical supplies donated from
Hungary.  

Church World Service (CWS) already has shipped over $750,000 in material
supplies, including health and shelter kits and emergency medicine
boxes, to affected areas. CWS will be undertaking a regional response to
the catastrophe, focusing support in the three hardest hit areas,
Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India. 

K/2004ABNS/04ABN150 

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA
x2077 / (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

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