wfn.org | CRWRC Helps with Disaster Aid in Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Grace Wiebe, International Relief Project Manager, 1-800-334-2920
Bill Adams, Disaster Response Services Director, 616-560-2782
Beth DeGraff, Media Contact, cell 616-648-7821 or 1-80055-CRWRC

CRWRC Helps with Emergency Disaster Aid in Philippines, Indonesia, and Samoa

October 1, 2009?The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
(www.crwrc.org) is providing immediate, emergency aid in Asia in
response to a sequence of catastrophic disasters that have occurred
over the last week.

PHILIPPINES  With local churches, CRWRC is distributing food, water,
blankets, and clothing to hundreds of Typhoon Ketsana survivors in
settlements in and around Manila. CRWRC International Relief Managers
will join development staff on the ground as soon as possible to
assess needs for medical, rehabilitation, and livelihood
interventions.

?Thousands of Philippine families have been severely affected by the
storm,? says CRWRC staff, Lem Rosselon, from Manila. ?People are in
danger from the cold, from hunger, and from drowning and sickness.
Many roads are still flooded, but we are able to intervene, doing what
we can to help save lives.?

CRWRC is also monitoring the situation as Typhoon Parma heads toward
Manila this weekend and may cause additional damage.

INDONESIA  CRWRC staff members Nick Armstrong and Mona Saroingsong
traveling today to meet with local partners in Padang, Sumatra, to
organize emergency response to the September 30th earthquake that
caused extensive damage on the island. CRWRC has trained local
congregations in disaster preparedness and response, allowing for
quick distribution of food, water, and shelter when the quake hit.

With disaster experience in Padang in response to a March 2007
earthquake, CRWRC has been able to act quickly to meet the needs of
survivors through its partners there. The organization is deploying
International Relief Managers to Padang to work with local
organizations to implement a response to this week?s devastation..

CRWRC is also working on the Indonesian island of Java, Tasikmalaya,
reconstructing houses after an earthquake hit there on September 2,
2009, displacing 180,000 people. CRWRC previously worked on Java in
2006 when an earthquake destroyed most of Jogjakarta. The agency built
900 core houses in Jogjakarta at that time.

SAMOA  CRWRC Disaster Response Director Bill Adams is working with the
Federal Emergency Management agency (FEMA) to provide skilled
volunteers for rehabilitation and reconstruction on American Samoa,
where an earthquake and resulting tsunami wreaked havoc on September
29th.  President Obama declared the U.S. Territory a federal disaster
area yesterday, freeing up federal funding for disaster response
there, and offering assistance as well to the nearby independent
island of Samoa.

CRWRC is requesting financial donations to respond to destruction,
loss, and devastation throughout Asia Pacific. Gifts can be made
online at www.crwrc.org or by phone at 1-800-55-CRWRC. Checks
designated ?Philippines/Asia Floods 2009? can be mailed to CRWRC, 2850
Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560-0600.

Grace Wiebe, International Relief Project Manager for CRWRC, is
available for interviews by calling 1-800-730-3490.
Bill Adams, CRWRC-DRS Director is available for interviews regarding
CRWRC?s response on Samoa at 616-560-2782.
Or call Beth DeGraff, CRWRC Media Contact, at 1-800-55-CRWRC or cell,
616-648-7821.

To learn more about CRWRC?s international relief programs, go to  www.crwrc.org.

To inquire about CRWRC Work Teams in the Philippines responding to
flooding on Mindanao Island where CRWRC will build 15 homes in 12
months, go to www.crwrc.org/volunteer or email
servicelearning@crcna.org.

CRWRC is a non-profit agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North
America ministering to people in need around the world with relief,
development, and justice.

> # # #

> -- Beth DeGraff
> CRWRC Media and Justice Contact
> 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue SE
> Grand Rapids, MI 49560-0600
> 1-800-55-CRWRC
> www.crwrc.org

Note that my email address has changed to bdegraff@crwrc.org.

CRWRC is a registered non-profit agency of the CRC-NA in both the U.S.
and Canada.