Church Relief Operations Continue in Myanmar and China

Thursday, May 22, A.D. 2008

It has now been more than two weeks since Cyclone Nargis swamped the Irrawaddy delta region of Myanmar (Burma) and more than one week since a 7.9 earthquake devastated the Sichuan province of western China – two of the worst disasters to strike southern Asia since the December 2004 tsunami. The death toll in Myanmar is now estimated to be more than 130,000 people, and there are fears it may exceed 200,000. As many as 2.5 million people have been affected and are in urgent need of assistance. In China the death toll is approaching 80,000, and some 5 million people have been made homeless.

In spite of the actions and attitude of the Myanmar regime, Week of Compassion is able to support relief efforts in the country through a network of local organizations within Church World Service and Action by Churches Together. (See WOC Update 5/15/08 for a brief slide presentation of relief activities being carried out in Myanmar.) Also, the Southern Asia Office of Global Ministries has church partnerships in the country through whom WOC is also responding. Click here for a personal word from one of those partners. In China, long-time Disciples, CWS and ACT partner, the Amity Foundation, is fully engaged in quake relief activities and is providing emergency food, temporary shelter and water to more than 8000 of the most vulnerable families.

WOC Responds with Emergency Grants

WOC has already provided $35,000 in emergency grants in response to the cyclone and $17,000 in response to the quake. Next week, the WOC Committee is meeting in Los Fresnos, TX, and will consider additional responses to the two large appeals that have been issued by CWS to its member communions. Online and regular mail donations have been very encouraging and are enabling WOC to ensure that the response of the Disciples to both these disasters is strong. Designated gifts can be made online or sent to WOC, attn: Elaine Cleveland, P.O. Box 1986, Indpls, IN 46206. All gifts are used in their entirety as directed by the donor. Thank you.

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.