EVANGELICAL RELIEF AGENCIES PROVIDING SWIFT HELP TO TSUNAMI DISASTER VICTIMS
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ANS) -- The estimated death toll from last Sunday's earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean stands at more than 76,000.
The international Red Cross warned that the toll could eventually surpass 100,000.
Twelve nations have been affected by the tsunami, which is being described as the worst ever natural disaster.
Many Christians are also victims of the disaster.
The Barnabas Fund, an organization providing assistance to the persecuted church, is reporting that the region of south-east India is an area where many Indian Christians live. One Barnabas Fund partner said that in the city of Nagappattinam alone, in Tamil Nadu State, about 800 Christian families have lost their homes and are living in the streets without food.
In the Indonesian province of Aceh at the tip of Sumatra, the nearest land to the epicenter of the earthquake, the population is 99.9 percent Muslim. Yet even here, the Barnabas Fund reported, its partners said about 150 Christians were killed and 5,000 left homeless.
In Sri Lanka, Barnabas Fund partners reported that many Christians were in church at about 9.00 a.m. local time when the tsunami struck.
According to a Barnabas Fund press release, “church buildings have been washed away – the number is unknown at present. Amongst those who have died are many women and children and also some pastors. Bodies are still being pulled from the rubble of the churches and other places.”
The Barnabas Fund is soliciting donations for both short term aid and long term assistance “for reconstructing Christian homes, churches and communities.”
According to a press release from the Barnabas Fund, “All donations sent ... for this need will be forwarded to our network of Christian partners in the region. Although our primary aim is to help the neediest national Christians who have suffered in this disaster, we recognize that our Christian partners on the ground may also at times be distributing their help more broadly.”
Additional information about the Barnabas Fund is available at www.barnabasfund.org
Compassion International, the well known Colorado Springs based child development organization, is setting up a Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of the disaster.
“Because of the widespread destruction of this catastrophe, more than two million children and families are reeling from the tsunami’s effects,” said Compassion International Chief Operating Officer David Dahlin in a press release. “With the donations we receive, we plan to partner with other evangelical relief agencies to provide resources to as many of the disaster victims as we can.”
The worst hit area for Compassion has been its work in India, where at least three projects were affected by the destruction.
In North Chennai, India, more than 25 fathers of Compassion-assisted children were lost at sea when the waves struck. All the homes in this village were totally destroyed. Property damage across the eastern Indian coast is severe. The United Nations estimates that between one third and one half of the victims killed by the tsunami were children.
“Our hearts just break for what has happened to these children and their families,” Dahlin said. “Compassion workers are currently assessing needs and learning more about the situation. In India, Compassion staff are traveling to the home of each child living in the impacted areas to see if all children and family members are accounted for and if their homes have been damaged. This tsunami has devastated families across many Asian nations.”
According to Dahlin, Compassion projects in Thailand and Indonesia were not significantly affected by the disaster.
People interested in donating to the Tsunami Relief Fund can go to www.compassion.com
The British based Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) representing 12 leading humanitarian aid agencies, is launching a television and radio appeal to help disaster victims.
Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive for the DEC commented in a press release, “We’ve been watching with disbelief the pictures of the tsunami caused by the quake across Asia that wiped out whole communities in minutes. Tens of thousands have been killed and millions left without water, food or shelter. Ordinary lives, like ours, have been devastated.
“British charities in the areas hardest hit are facing a huge challenge – they need to reach all those in need but must have the money to do this,” Gormley added. In times of emergency such as this, it makes sense for agencies to come together and ask the public for help.”
According to the DEC press release, “For every person that has been killed, there are many families fighting for survival. People are scrambling in the mud and ruins looking for water, food and items to make shelter. However, the water is contaminated, sanitation systems have been destroyed and the disaster zone is now threatened with outbreaks for disease which the UN warns is likely to ‘double’ the death toll. Diseases like malaria, dengue fever and cholera can spread quickly especially in temperatures over 30 degrees.”
People across the region need help immediately the release said. “They are crying out for blankets, clothes, food, water and medical supplies. In the longer term they will need help to rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and shattered lives.”
Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
The international Red Cross warned that the toll could eventually surpass 100,000.
Twelve nations have been affected by the tsunami, which is being described as the worst ever natural disaster.
Many Christians are also victims of the disaster.
The Barnabas Fund, an organization providing assistance to the persecuted church, is reporting that the region of south-east India is an area where many Indian Christians live. One Barnabas Fund partner said that in the city of Nagappattinam alone, in Tamil Nadu State, about 800 Christian families have lost their homes and are living in the streets without food.
In the Indonesian province of Aceh at the tip of Sumatra, the nearest land to the epicenter of the earthquake, the population is 99.9 percent Muslim. Yet even here, the Barnabas Fund reported, its partners said about 150 Christians were killed and 5,000 left homeless.
In Sri Lanka, Barnabas Fund partners reported that many Christians were in church at about 9.00 a.m. local time when the tsunami struck.
According to a Barnabas Fund press release, “church buildings have been washed away – the number is unknown at present. Amongst those who have died are many women and children and also some pastors. Bodies are still being pulled from the rubble of the churches and other places.”
The Barnabas Fund is soliciting donations for both short term aid and long term assistance “for reconstructing Christian homes, churches and communities.”
According to a press release from the Barnabas Fund, “All donations sent ... for this need will be forwarded to our network of Christian partners in the region. Although our primary aim is to help the neediest national Christians who have suffered in this disaster, we recognize that our Christian partners on the ground may also at times be distributing their help more broadly.”
Additional information about the Barnabas Fund is available at www.barnabasfund.org
Compassion International, the well known Colorado Springs based child development organization, is setting up a Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund in the wake of the disaster.
“Because of the widespread destruction of this catastrophe, more than two million children and families are reeling from the tsunami’s effects,” said Compassion International Chief Operating Officer David Dahlin in a press release. “With the donations we receive, we plan to partner with other evangelical relief agencies to provide resources to as many of the disaster victims as we can.”
The worst hit area for Compassion has been its work in India, where at least three projects were affected by the destruction.
In North Chennai, India, more than 25 fathers of Compassion-assisted children were lost at sea when the waves struck. All the homes in this village were totally destroyed. Property damage across the eastern Indian coast is severe. The United Nations estimates that between one third and one half of the victims killed by the tsunami were children.
“Our hearts just break for what has happened to these children and their families,” Dahlin said. “Compassion workers are currently assessing needs and learning more about the situation. In India, Compassion staff are traveling to the home of each child living in the impacted areas to see if all children and family members are accounted for and if their homes have been damaged. This tsunami has devastated families across many Asian nations.”
According to Dahlin, Compassion projects in Thailand and Indonesia were not significantly affected by the disaster.
People interested in donating to the Tsunami Relief Fund can go to www.compassion.com
The British based Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) representing 12 leading humanitarian aid agencies, is launching a television and radio appeal to help disaster victims.
Brendan Gormley, Chief Executive for the DEC commented in a press release, “We’ve been watching with disbelief the pictures of the tsunami caused by the quake across Asia that wiped out whole communities in minutes. Tens of thousands have been killed and millions left without water, food or shelter. Ordinary lives, like ours, have been devastated.
“British charities in the areas hardest hit are facing a huge challenge – they need to reach all those in need but must have the money to do this,” Gormley added. In times of emergency such as this, it makes sense for agencies to come together and ask the public for help.”
According to the DEC press release, “For every person that has been killed, there are many families fighting for survival. People are scrambling in the mud and ruins looking for water, food and items to make shelter. However, the water is contaminated, sanitation systems have been destroyed and the disaster zone is now threatened with outbreaks for disease which the UN warns is likely to ‘double’ the death toll. Diseases like malaria, dengue fever and cholera can spread quickly especially in temperatures over 30 degrees.”
People across the region need help immediately the release said. “They are crying out for blankets, clothes, food, water and medical supplies. In the longer term they will need help to rebuild their homes, livelihoods, and shattered lives.”
Jeremy Reynalds
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service
posted by R7 | 1/02/2005 05:28:00 PM
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