wfn.org | Hurricane Mitch damage 'eclipses' Georges

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

Nov. 12, 1998	Contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York    {666}

NOTE:  This story may be used with UMNS #667. A photograph is available.

By United Methodist News Service

When disaster consultant Gordon Knuckey saw the destruction in Puerto
Rico after Hurricane Georges, he declared it "the worst I'd ever seen."

But after making an initial assessment trip to Honduras in the aftermath
of Hurricane Mitch, Knuckey, with the United Methodist Committee on
Relief (UMCOR), found the damage there even more catastrophic. 

"This one eclipses Georges," he told United Methodist News Service in a
Nov. 11 telephone interview.

"The problem that complicates any kind of recovery is the damage to the
infrastructure," he added. "I don't think there's a bridge left."

The only groups that can provide enough resources, such as tents or
other shelters for the vast number of displaced people, are foreign
governments, according to Knuckey. "A role the church can have is one of
advocacy to help the international community see the need for ongoing
response."

But the churches are forging ahead in their own relief efforts. Knuckey
said he was "much impressed" by the initial work of the Christian
Commission for Development, UMCOR's partner for recovery efforts in
Honduras. 

"They really seem to have their act together," he said. "They have the
staff and the savvy to do a good job."

In Houston, the Nov. 11 departure of a ship bound for Honduras with
relief supplies (UMNS #657), has been delayed, so supplies gathered
through a Houston-area telethon can be packed and loaded. 

"We want to carry every pound we can," said Jesse Stokely, coordinator
of the shipment.

Sponsors are UMCOR and the Christian Alliance for Humanitarian Aid Inc.,
led by the United Methodist Texas Annual Conference. The ship, "Spirit
of Grace," was in port awaiting a relief shipment for the North Korea
famine. It will make that trip after returning from Honduras, Stokely
said, and a second ship will be dispatched again to Honduras in about
three weeks.

Meanwhile, volunteers at the Christian Alliance warehouse were sorting
and packing on Nov. 12, and 40 semi-tractor trailers were expected to
haul the boxes of food, bottled water, medical supplies and clothes to
the docks the next day. "The longshoremen are loading the ship for us at
no charge," Stokely added.

Those who wish to arrange to send bulk donations of food or bottled
water to Hurricane Mitch survivors can contact Rose Rogers at UMCOR's
Arlington, Va., office, at (703) 284-3601. For shipping smaller
donations of supplies, call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765.

Monetary donations can be made through UMCOR 's "Hurricanes '98,"
Advance No. 982515-0, and designated to a specific country if desired.
Checks can be placed in church collection plates or mailed to UMCOR at
475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115.

Many United Methodists have contacted UMCOR about volunteering in
recovery efforts, but the immediate need is for medical professionals
who can speak Spanish. Licensed civil engineers will be needed in about
six weeks, Knuckey said. Work teams for general rebuilding will not be
placed until 1999.

Volunteers for future work teams can call UMCOR at (800) 918-3100.