We have followed the devastation and the impact on the largest storm in recorded history, Super Typhoon Haiyan, as it hit the Philippines and continued its path toward Vietnam. The rescue and recovery efforts are already underway.
The United Methodist Committee On Relief's initial response will involve distribution of food and water purification tablets.
UMCOR has a field office in the Philippines and has been partnering with the local people for some time to prepare this area in the event of a threat such as this typhoon. This video gives you a glimpse of their presence: https://vimeo.com/78953319.
Please engage your congregations in prayer, share the video and the different ways in which they can give to the recovery efforts in the Philippines. There is great strength in the connection of The United Methodist Church.
We have set up Fund 8430 for those wishing to give to disaster response efforts to the Philippines.
You may give through any North Georgia Conference United Methodist Church. Place checks made out to your local church in the offering plate and note: The Philippins Disaster Response in the memo line. Your church will then mail one check to the North Georgia Conference.
As you can imagine Disaster Relief Supplies become critical during times like this as the inventory held in the UMCOR Depots are shipped to meet the immediate needs of the survivors in the affected areas. UMCOR relief kits and cleaning buckets are needed. This is a great way to have all ages of your church involved in outreach. Your church can collect and assemble relief kits, which are distributed through the UMCOR Depot, Sager Brown in Louisiana. Instructions for the various kits can be found at www.umcor.org.
UMCOR Mobilizes Disaster Response in Philippines
November 10, 2013—In the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is actively mobilizing resources to respond to this latest and largest in a series of disasters to hit the Philippines over the past twelve months.
Although an accurate casualty toll is yet to be determined, it is clear that the destruction and disruption of lives due to Typhoon Haiyan, known locally as Yolanda, is massive. Haiyan crashed into the Philippines on Friday, November 8.
UMCOR Assistant General Secretary for International Disaster Response Rev. Jack Amick and UMCOR Philippines Head of Mission Ciony Eduarte worked together to develop an appropriate and strategic response. UMCOR is making plans to fill the gaps in the disaster-relief delivery network and go where the need is greatest. “Our goal,” said Eduarte “will be to reach the yet unreached with supplies that meet their basic needs.”
The initial response from UMCOR will involve the distribution of food and water purification tablets. UMCOR expects to provide relief services to at least 1,000 families. In the coming weeks, UMCOR will begin to assess the viability of longer-term rehabilitation projects.
“This was an extremely destructive storm,” noted Amick, “and UMCOR is well-positioned through its office in the Philippines to play a significant role in long-term recovery efforts. “
The General Board of Global Ministries, of which UMCOR is a part, has confirmed that all of its missionaries in the Philippines are safe.
UMCOR Deputy General Secretary Rev. Denise Honeycutt spoke by telephone this morning with the three bishops of the Philippines, who are participating in the Council of Bishops meeting in Junaluska, North Carolina.
She assured the bishops of continuing prayers while resources are mobilized to assist those impacted by the storm. “UMCOR will be with you as you care for those in your country who have suffered so much,” Honeycutt told them in a written follow-up to the conversation.