by United Methodist News Service
11/11/2013

By Linda Bloom*

Three days after Super Typhoon Haiyan flattened part of the Philippines, relief was beginning to trickle in to survivors.

United Methodists are among those starting to provide emergency supplies while assessing damages from the powerful Nov. 8 storm, known as Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines, that made direct hits on several islands. Much of the early media attention has centered on Tacloban, a Leyte Island city of 200,000 that was nearly destroyed.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief announced a $97,000 grant Nov. 11 to provide emergency food, water and water purification tablets to 7,500 individuals (or 1,500 families) in Tacloban City. The funding also will help local UMCOR staff and volunteers build capacity to meet emergency needs.

The Rev. Jack Amick, UMCOR’s executive for international disaster response, has been consulting with Ciony Eduarte, UMCOR Philippines Head of Mission, and will travel Nov. 12 to the UMCOR Philippines office to work with field staff, partners and needs assessment.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines, a United Methodist partner, has called for international ecumenical support as it coordinates relief efforts with the ACT Philippines Forum, local churches and community organizations.

Church World Service has announced it will support early response and recovery efforts of UMCOR and other fellow members of the ACT Alliance with significant operations in the Philippines, including Lutheran World Relief, Christian Aid and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines.

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The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR’s work reaches people in more than 80 countries, including the United States.  We provide humanitarian relief when war, conflict, or natural disaster disrupt life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own.

UMCOR is a ministry of The United Methodist Church, and our goal is to assist the most vulnerable persons affected by crisis or chronic need without regard to their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. We believe all people have God-given worth and dignity.  

Click  here to donate to UMCOR’s relief efforts in the Philippines today.