wfn.org | United Methodists raise $1 million for Mozambique relief

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

June 14, 2000 News media contact: Linda Bloom·(212) 870-3803·New York
10-31-71B{275}

By United Methodist News Service

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has raised $1 million for
relief work in Mozambique since flooding in February and March devastated
that African country.

Wendy Whiteside, an UMCOR executive, said the agency had dispersed more than
$300,000 of the funds by the end of May.

In addition, the United Methodist Missouri East and Missouri West annual
(regional) conferences together recently raised more than $100,000 for well
and water-related work in Mozambique. Total donations to Mozambique for the
past year are about $400,000, according to Carol Kreamer, director of the
Mozambique Initiative of the Missouri Area churches.

About 700 people died as a result of cyclones and floods that ravaged
Mozambique and parts of several other African countries. The flooding was
prompted by an early rainy season. UMCOR first responded in February by
providing initial grants to the United Methodist Church in Mozambique, the
Methodist Church in South Africa and the South African Council of Churches.

The flooding worsened after Cyclone Eline descended with its gale-force
winds and torrential rains on Feb. 22. On March 10, United Methodists issued
a churchwide appeal for donations to assist the estimated quarter of a
million people displaced by the flooding.

By the end of May, the Mozambique government reported that 70 percent of
those displaced by the floods had been resettled or returned home. But many
homes, schools and other buildings need repair, and much of the country's
farmland and water system was destroyed. Whiteside estimated that long-term
recovery efforts would continue for three to four years.

United Methodist Bishop Joao Somane Machado of Mozambique has appointed the
Rev. Morais Quissico to serve as his conference's disaster coordinator and
plan developer. UMCOR allocated $209,940 to assist Quissico's work with
supplies of food, seeds and hoes, mosquito nets, materials for native houses
and transportation and labor. The agency also is underwriting a year's
salary and office equipment.

Since February, UMCOR has sent several shipments of relief supplies to
Mozambique, containing such items as health, home care and school kits,
bedding packs, blankets, dehydrated potatoes, oral-rehydration salts, water
treatment units, emergency ration bars and mosquito netting. Medical
supplies were sent to the denomination's Chicuque Hospital

Quissico will help assess when and where Volunteer in Mission teams might be
used for rebuilding efforts. Potential volunteers can indicate their
interest by calling (800) 918-3100.

United Methodists interested in supporting relief efforts can contribute to
the Churchwide Appeal for Flood Recovery in Mozambique and Neighboring
Countries. Checks may be written to UMCOR, designated to Advance No.
156500-0, and placed in church collection plates or mailed to 475 Riverside
Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Credit-card donations can be made by
calling (800) 554-8583.

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United Methodist News Service
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