wfn.org | UNITED CHURCH EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION

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

For Immediate Release -- Tuesday, January 4, 2005

UNITED CHURCH LAUNCHES AN EMERGENCY APPEAL
FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF AND RECONSTRUCTION

Toronto: The United Church of Canada announced today that it has
launched an emergency appeal asking its congregations for donations
designated for tsunami relief and reconstruction.

The United Church's Tsunami Appeal will enable global partners in Asia
and East Africa who are working to address the need for immediate relief
and long-term reconstruction following the devastating earthquake and
tsunami on December 26, 2004.
Funds raised through this emergency appeal will be transferred directly
to United Church partners in the regions affected by this natural
disaster. Some of the funds will also be channelled to Action By
Churches Together (ACT), a global alliance of faith-based agencies
associated with the World Council of Churches. ACT has the capacity to
quickly assess and intervene in emergency disaster situations. Its
members based in South and Southeast Asia were able to mobilize
humanitarian relief operations in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and
Thailand hours after the tragedy struck. On December 29, ACT issued an
$8 million dollar (US) appeal for financial support for disaster relief
in the region.

Due to the urgency of the need for humanitarian assistance, and in
anticipation of donations that will be received, the United Church's
General Council has responded immediately by making $250,000 available
from the church's Mission and Service Fund that will be shared among
global partners in the regions affected by the tsunami.

Regular donations to the United Church's Mission and Service Fund make
it possible for the United Church to absorb the staffing and
administration costs of processing donations to all emergency appeals. A
portion of the Mission and Service Fund is also annually allocated for
emergency response and thereby enables the United Church to respond
immediately to crises as they erupt. Thus far, $10,000 from the Mission
and Service Fund has been applied to tsunami relief. The United Church
will also apply to the federal government to match donated funds.

Margaret Sumadh is the United Church's Interim Area Secretary for South
Asia. Soon after the tsunami struck last week, she was in communication
with several of the United Church's partners in the affected region to
express the United Church's deep concern and sympathy and to offer the
church's support. Several partners are themselves involved in damage
assessment and immediate relief. Some have requested immediate
assistance to help meet these needs. Some are thinking ahead to the
long-term needs of reconstruction.
"Based on the response we received to this initial enquiry and from the
information we have gathered from the widespread media coverage of the
scope of this natural disaster, the General Council Office's Inter-Unit
Emergencies Task Group met on January 3 and decided to formally launch
an emergency appeal," says Sumadh. Funds donated to the Tsunami Appeal
will be used to support partners' efforts both in providing immediate
relief and in planning for the long-term reconstruction and
rehabilitation needs of the communities affected by the tsunami.
"The impact of this natural calamity has been enormous across several
countries from Indonesia to East Africa. There has been considerable
loss of life in Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and India in particular.
There is urgent concern about the spread of disease, particularly from
contaminated water. In the longer term, the cost of the tragedy will be
measured not only in the loss of human lives, but also in the enormous
destruction of homes, livelihoods, and infrastructure that will require
months and years to rebuild," says Gary Kenny, the United Church's
Emergency Response Coordinator.

"This is where the United Church has a unique role to play, given its
experience in supporting programs of reconstruction, long-term capacity
building, and development. We will be present with partners in the
affected regions long after international media coverage has ended,"
adds Kenny.

Individuals are invited to contribute to the United Church's Tsunami
Appeal either through their local congregation or directly to The United
Church of Canada's national office, 3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300,
Toronto, Ontario M8X 2Y4. Cheques can be made payable to The United
Church of Canada and marked Tsunami Appeal. You can also donate by
telephone at 1-800-465-3771 or online at
www.united-church.ca/howtogive/donations
<http://www.strategicprofitsinc.com/unitedchurch/> . Indicate that your
donation is for the Tsunami Appeal.

Information about the United Church's Tsunami Appeal has been posted on
the United Church's website (www.united-church.ca) and will be updated
as new information becomes available.

For further information, please contact:
Mary-Frances Denis
Communications Officer
The United Church of Canada
416-231-7680 ext. 2016
mdenis@united-church.ca

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