wfn.org | CRC NEWS: Providing Basic Necessities to Wilma Victims

["Henry Hess" <hessh@crcna.ca>]

Oct. 25, 2005 - The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) is responding to the
needs of people in Mexico and Florida affected by the devastation of
Hurricane Wilma.

Staff from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) and
Christian Reformed World Missions (CRWM) are assessing the damage and
preparing to provide food, clothing and other necessities.

Wilma's path through Florida was not as destructive as expected, but
there is extensive damage in Cancun and other parts of Mexico's Yucatan
Peninsula.

"On previous occasions, we have learned that the main effect of a
hurricane in this region of Mexico is flooding, which can last for weeks
because of the poor drainage on the Yucatan plateau," said Jacob Kramer,
CRWRC's relief team leader.

"The maize and bean crop, which is still on the land in this season,
will be lost and with that the livelihood of the country people," Kramer
said. "In general, we are talking about a population with low social and
economic mobility - many poor families and older people."

CRWRC, having responded to emergencies in the Yucatan twice before, will
immediately provide families with roof tarps, clothing, and distribute
maize, beans, and oil.	Supplies will be distributed through local
Mexican organizations and churches.

Bill Van Tol, a field leader in Mexico with CRWM, reported in his
initial assessment that the situation in Cancun is deteriorating due to
the lack of infrastructure and supplies.

"People are getting more and more desperate," he wrote in an e-mail to
supporters in North America. "The city is under curfew and the army is
coming in. But looting is rampant. The hotel strip is devastated with
much beach gone. Some hotels have lost all sand right up to their
exposed foundations and many have all windows blown out and interiors
totally destroyed. Thousands will have no jobs to go back to in the
tourist industry for quite a while."

In Florida, CRWRC has a long-established presence in disaster response.
Volunteers who were in Port St. Lucie to rebuild homes damaged by
hurricanes Jeanne and Frances were removed from the area last week in
preparation for Hurricane Wilma.

"It is likely that they will return to work in St. Lucie," said Bill
Adams, CRWRC's disaster response director. "We will also send an
assessment team into South Florida to determine what, if any, help is
needed. At the same time, our volunteer teams continue to work in
Pensacola on reconstruction from last year's hurricanes and in Beaumont,
Texas, cleaning-up after Hurricane Rita."

Donations marked "Hurricanes 2005/Wilma," can be made by calling
1-800-55-CRWRC (US) or 1-800-730-3490 (Canada), giving online at
www.crwrc.org <http://www.crwrc.org>, or sending by mail to: CRWRC, 2850
Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49560 or, in Canada, P.O. Box 5070 Stn
LCD1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8.

For more information about Wilma's effect in Mexico and Florida please
contact Bruce Campbell-Janz (1-800-730-3490) or Bill Adams
(1-800-55-CRWRC).

---------------------------------
Henry Hess
Director of Communications
Christian Reformed Church
905-336-2920 ext.236
hessh@crcna.ca

To learn more about the Christian Reformed Church, visit www.crcna.org