wfn.org | Church Seeks Somalia Flood Relief

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS 97" by SUSAN PEEK on April 15, 1997 at 14:24
Eastern, about DAILY NEWS RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (485
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Note 483 by UMNS on Dec. 2, 1997 at 14:59 Eastern (1813 characters).

CONTACT: Linda Bloom					  671(10-71B){483}
		New York (212) 870-3803				Dec. 2, 1997

UMCOR joins response
on floods in Somalia

			by United Methodist News Service

	The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has joined an ecumenical
response to assist people displaced by flooding in central and southern
Somalia.
	Action by Churches Together (ACT), of which UMCOR is a member, has set an
appeal target of $1,243,650 for its work in Somalia. Donations can be made
through UMCOR Response No. 982450-8, designated for "Somalia floods."
	According to ACT's Nov. 20 appeal letter, the persistent rains which have
fallen since mid-October have resulted in the worst flooding there since 1961.
At least 1,000 people have been killed and several hundreds of thousands
displaced from their homes.
	Extensive damage has occurred to property, infrastructure, crops and
livestock. Combined with the effects of the country's ongoing civil strife,
lack of affordable food is an increasing problem.
	"As food prices continue to spiral dramatically, hunger, malnutrition and
disease are expected to take a fatal toll of human lives which also are
threatened by poisonous snakes, crocodiles and the presence of landmines," the
ACT letter said.
	Norwegian Church Aid and Diakonie-Bread for the World, both ACT members,
dropped its first airlift of relief supplies Nov. 6 in the Gedo region of
southwestern Somalia. Those groups will be joined by Swedish Church Relief and
Lutheran World Federation as further relief and rehabilitation plans are
implemented.
	ACT estimated that about 200,000 people were in need of immediate help.
"Stranded by the devastating floods, hundreds may die of hunger unless much
needed emergency aid is soon delivered," the letter stated.
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