From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org
CWS Responds To Southern Africa Floods
From
CAROL_FOUKE.parti@ecunet.org (CAROL FOUKE)
Date
02 Mar 2000 12:41:46
National Council of The Churches of Christ in the USA
Email: news@ncccusa.org Web: www.ncccusa.org
Contact: NCC News, 212-870-2227
16NCC3/2/00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WATER IMMERSES ENTIRE CITIES IN MOZAMBIQUE, SETS BACK
ECONOMY
CWS Helps Partners in Mozambique and Other Flood-Affected
Countries to Respond
March 2, 2000, NEW YORK ---- Emergency response is
critical and restoration needs will be enormous following
the cyclone, rains and flooding that are battering
Mozambique and other southern African countries.
Church World Service (CWS) is assisting its partners,
including the Mozambique Council of Churches, to respond and
is conducting an on-the-ground assessment to identify
further needs and long-term recovery strategies.
"There are cities and district capitals which are
totally immersed," reported Titos Macie of the Mozambique
Council of Churches, Maputo, in a fax today to CWS Africa
Office Director Willis Logan. Mr. Macie listed several:
Chokwe and Xai-Xai in Gaza, Machanga and Buzi in Sofala,
Nova Mambone in Inhambane. Hundreds of thousands of people
are affected.
Mr. Macie noted the rising number of human deaths,
along with loss of crops, livestock and game, and said,
"Before the last flooding over the last weekend that
worsened the already bad or critical situation, it was
estimated that the country would need two and one-half years
to rebuild the destruction."
"The problem is it continues to rain and they are
expecting another big storm," said Mr. Logan of CWS, the
National Council of Churches' emergency response, human
development and refugee assistance ministry. "The loss of
life and infrastructure, including roads, will be a
tremendous setback for a country that was one of the most
successful economic stories of 1999."
After suffering torrential rain storms followed by the
deluge of Cyclone Eline, Mozambique continues to endure
severe flooding from dams in South Africa and Zimbabwe. The
cyclone has also affected South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe,
Namibia and Madagascar. Over 800,000 people have already
been affected throughout the region in what has been deemed
the worst flooding in the region in decades. Aid workers
say cholera, malaria and meningitis are looming as serious
problems in flood-affected regions.
CWS has made a $10,000 contribution for blankets in
response to the Mozambique Council of Churches' initial
appeal for help. While CWS currently is seeking $200,000
for initial response across the region, an enlarged appeal
is anticipated.
CWS consultant Ivan Dekam, from Grand Rapids, Mich., a
member of the Christian Reformed Church of North America,
leaves this weekend for Mozambique and South Africa to
provide support and evaluate further needs.
"The real work will start after the water recedes," Mr.
Logan said. "That's when we'll see the full extent of the
destruction. Restoration needs will be enormous."
Contributions for relief and reconstruction efforts may
be sent to CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Southern Africa
Flooding, #976416, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Phone
pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222.
On-line contributions to: http://www.churchworldservice.org
CWS also encourages additional support through the
Action by Churches Together (ACT) appeal #AFSA01 in the
amount of $150,000, designated to the South African Council
of Churches (SACC).
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