Click here to download a printable version of this update.
CONTENTS: From the Relief and Development Unit | Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal | Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal | Sumatra (Indonesia) Earthquake Appeal | Samoa Tsunami Appeal | Donate
From the Relief and Development unit
Dear Friends,
In September and October last year, UnitingWorld respond to the urgent needs of several of our Partner Churches at a time when they faced danger from natural disasters and chronic food shortages.
Some of the most destructive natural disasters of recent times severely affected our partners in Samoa, the Philippines and Indonesia. At the same time millions of Zimbabweans were facing a chronic food shortage, with an estimated seven million people relying on food aid.
We received a significant amount of support that enabled us to respond to the urgent needs of our Church Partners. With your generosity, we were able to act swiftly to stand with our partners through this difficult time, and aid the recovery process.
Below I have provided updates from our partners who have reported on the aid that you enabled us to provide. You can read about what is happening now on the ground as a result of your giving.
We are thankful for the assistance you enabled us to provide through these difficult times, and we are proud to be able to show you the results. While there is still much to do, these communities are gradually finding a renewed sense of stability. Again, thank you for your support.
Yours in Partnership,
Mr Rob Floyd
Associate Director | Relief and Development
Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal
A total of $51 160.80 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.
A woman and her child near the Buhera District receive food and sanitation supplies, including rice, cooking oil, beans and soap
UnitingWorld launched the Zimbabwe Food Relief Appeal in September last year to provide emergency assistance to the five million people relying on food aid for survival in the Buhera District in Zimbabwe.
Located approximately 226 km south west of Harare, the district is the second poorest district in Zimbabwe, and was facing the effects of growing food prices, infertile land, and persistant drought. Cholera prevalence rates were also continuing to grow as a result of poor sanitation facilities. Estimates from the United Nations indicate that approximately seven million people are relying on food aid for survival.
We initially supported the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe and their aid and development arm Methodist Development and Relief Agency (MeDRA) in providing 835 families with emergency food supplies. In December alone 570 highly vulnerable households each received 500 g of beans, 750 ml of cooking oil and 10 kg of mealie meal (ground maize).
Grain was purchased from farmers in more fertile areas of Zimbabwe who, due to the state of the economy, had a surplus of crops and needed an income. The relief effort is continuing to provide the most vulnerable people, including the disabled, elderly, and child headed families with food relief.
The prevalence of cholera was also addressed by providing soap and education to communities at risk, and installing sanitary toilets.
While our food relief effort in Zimbabwe is now complete, and we are continuing to focus on water harvesting projects in Muzarabanzi, a remote region of Zimbabwe that exists several hours walk from a source of water.
Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal
A total of $54 927.30 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.
Local residents cling to telegraph poles to escape rising flood levels
On Saturday 26th September 2009, Typohoon Ketsana brought the equivalent of one month’s rain in just 12 hours, resulting in the worst flooding the Philippines had seen in more than 40 years. Hundreds lost their lives as a result of the typhoon, and the homes of around two million people were affected. Disease and sanitation were also serious concerns, and several farms had been destroyed.
UnitingWorld launched the Typhoon Ketsana, Philippines Appeal to support the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) in their emergency relief efforts. Initially, emergency food aid was distributed to provide immediate relief. Subsequent support focused on increasing the capacity of farmers and workers whose livelihoods had been destroyed.
Seeds were provided to farming communities to aid the recovery of rice and vegetable fields. Replacement farming tools and implements that had been damaged or destroyed were replaced, including, spades, rakes, water pumps, and hoses.
A tree planting program undertaken by the 15 conferences of the UCCP affected by the typhoon worked to address the issue of landslides in rural areas caused by deforestation.
Sumatra (Indonesia) Earthquake Appeal
A total of $39 111.72 was donated, and is now fully dispersed.
Residents are rescued from collapsed buildings. Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37387749@N02/ / CC BY-ND 2.0
On Wednesday 30th September 2009, an earthquake of 7.3 magnitude struck the Padang province of Sumatra, Indonesia. Hundreds of people died as houses fell and infrastructure and health care services were destroyed. Thousands of people were left, injured, homeless, and hungry.
To address the urgent health needs of the people in the Padang area, UnitingWorld immediately launched the Sumatra Earthquake Appeal to support relief efforts of our Church Partner, the Indonesian Christian Church.
Your support saved lives and helped to rebuild the future of the Padang province by providing assistance to over 1000 people in nine villages.
Initially, nine communities affected by the quake received over 12 tonnes of rice, 500 kg of green beans, and 4 800 bottles of water to address the immediate need for food and water. Tents, blankets and sarongs for shelter and warmth were also distributed. As health could rapidly deteriorate, medicine (100 boxes), soap (2880 boxes), toothbrushes and toothpaste were also provided.
We also supported our partner in Indonesia by providing housing assistance while villages are being rebuilt. Clean water and sanitation initiatives will ensure the long term health of these communities.
Samoa Tsunami Appeal
A total of $349 161.72 was donated, and $205 000 has been dispersed to date.
A remote village in Samoa after the tsunami hit
The 1.7 metre wave that hit Samoa in September last year caused severe damage in low lying island areas and claimed the lives of more than 100 people. Thousands of homes were swept away, livelihoods were left in ruins, and entire communities needed emergency food, water, shelter, and medical attention.
UnitingWorld came to the aid of our friends in Samoa and launched the Samoa Tsunami Appeal. We supported two of our Partner Churches, the Methodist Church of Samoa and the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa address the immediate needs of those most affected.
Community centres are nearly completed in three villages where all the buildings were wiped away. The centres will provide a place for pre-schools, youth, women’s and other community groups to meet.
The remaining $144 161.72 will be used to rebuild infrastructure in affected communities in the coming months.
Donate
The clean up from these disasters is well underway, but there are several other of our projects in these countries and throughout Africa, Asia and the Pacific that are still in need of assistance.
Our Relief and Development and Peacemaking projects are still in need of support. All donations are gratefully received.
Click here to make a secure online donation
Tags: Indonesia, Philippines, Samoa, Zimbabwe
[...] Who We Are Emergency Appeals 2009 – Update [...]
[...] The full update including a message of thanks from the Relief and Development unit is now available to read here. [...]