Episcopal Relief and Development

Episcopalians have an excellent agency for aiding those in immediate need, and staying involved as communities develop or rebuild. Episcopal Relief and Development has three ways to make very effective use of our donations: local contacts through Anglican Communion churches world-wide, facilitating aid to places such as Africa, and partners with local aid and development agencies.

 

Right Now

Kenya

On July 20, the United Nations declared a famine in two regions of southern Somalia. The food shortage is the consequence of a sustained drought that is said to be the worst in more than 50 years. Reports indicate that over 800,000 people have fled Somalia as a result, many seeking refuge in the neighboring countries of Kenya and Ethiopia.

 

In response to the developing crisis, Episcopal Relief & Development will be working through its network of Anglican and Episcopal partners to support the humanitarian work of local organizations such as Ukamba Christian Community Services in Kenya. Episcopal Relief & Development’s support will be used to provide food aid (including maize, beans and cooking oil) to as many as 1,320 households in four areas over the next five months. Orphans, widows and the elderly will receive priority during distribution. The program will also support community efforts to prepare the land for the next rainy season, with soil and water preservation measures such as terracing and sand dam construction. Rains are expected between November and December 2011.  To support the crisis response efforts of organizations like Ukamba Christian Community Services, please make a contribution to Episcopal Relief & Development's Disaster Response Fund.

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Joplin, Missouri and southern United States

More than 120 people are dead after a massive tornado tore through the town of Joplin, Missouri, on Sunday, May 22. The storm caused severe property damage, destroying homes and businesses, and disabling one of the major hospitals in town. Electricity and phone services were cut off, and many roads remain impassable due to downed trees and piles of debris. The path of the tornado is reported to have been at least half a mile wide and four miles long, and rescue crews are still working to locate survivors who may be trapped in the wreckage.

 

Episcopal Relief & Development has been in contact with the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri, and is providing assistance in the aftermath of this disaster. Funds will be used to provide food, gas cards and temporary shelter for those in need.
 

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting relief efforts in a number of other Episcopal dioceses in the South and Southeast, after tornadoes in two separate storm systems on April 16 and 27 caused catastrophic damage and claimed nearly 400 lives across eight states.

To support disaster response in Joplin and other communities in the US, please donate to the USA Disaster Response Fund.

 

Japan

Episcopal Relief & Development is sending support to the Nippon Sei Ko Kei (NSKK; the Anglican Communion in Japan) to help with its initial emergency relief efforts in response to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on March 11. In the affected dioceses of Tohoku and Kita Kanto, the NSKK is working as quickly as they can to collect information and assess needs. However, in many cases local churches can’t be reached by phone or by land, so it is impossible to get a complete grasp of the casualties and physical destruction caused by the disaster. So far it has been reported that there are no casualties among clergy, though the Cathedral in Sendai (Diocese of Tohoku) and two churches in the Diocese of Kita Kanto have suffered major damage.

Donations to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Japan Earthquake Response Fund will provide vital support to the NSKK for their immediate work in assessing and responding to the disaster. In Tohoku, the Church is planning to establish an emergency relief center at the diocesan building, and leadership at the Provincial level is developing a response structure to organize and support a network of volunteers to carry out the relief and restoration work.

Outside Japan, the effects of the tsunami are widespread. Churches and partners around the Pacific region have been impacted, including those in Hawai’i and on the west coast of the US. Episcopal Relief & Development has been in contact with affected dioceses and is standing by to offer assistance.

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New Zealand

Episcopal Relief & Development has opened the New Zealand Earthquake Response Fund to collect donations from those wishing to contribute to the appeal launched by the archbishops and bishops of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia. The appeal is being organized through the Anglican Missions Board of the province, which is headed by the Rev. Canon Robert Kereopa.

Episcopal Relief & Development encourages thoughts and prayers for all those affected by the 6.3-magnitude earthquake that struck Christchurch, New Zealand, on February 22. At least 155 people have died as a result of the quake, and many are still missing. Experts say the quake’s shallow depth and proximity to the city contributed to the destruction and loss of life. Christchurch, at 390,000, is the largest city on the country’s southern island.

Please continue to pray for the families of the deceased, those who are injured and the teams of workers who are putting themselves at risk in order to find those who are still missing.
 

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Haiti

On January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, leveling scores of buildings and claiming over 217,000 lives. At the center of major relief efforts was the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, the largest diocese of The Episcopal Church, and long-term partner of Episcopal Relief & Development. Led by the Rt. Rev. Jean Zaché Duracin, the Haitian Church has long provided programs and basic services in communities throughout the country. The Church in Haiti has a network of relationships that were essential to the rapid delivery of assistance and supplies after the earthquake.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s response to the disaster in Haiti is unique not only in size, but also in approach. Staff members have spent significant amounts of time in Haiti, accompanying and providing support to local partners as they carry out their work.

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Website:

www.er-d.org - Episcopal Relief and Development

 

 

American Red Cross

Joplin, Missouri

As Joplin, Mo., residents begin to pick up the pieces after Sunday’s devastating tornado, the American Red Cross is providing shelter and supplies for those in need.

Hundreds of supplies that will be useful for recovery efforts are arriving in Joplin, including tarps, gloves, rakes and dust masks. In addition, more than 300 comfort kits—which contain daily essentials such as shampoo and toothpaste—have also been sent.

Red Cross emergency response vehicles are already in Joplin, having brought shelter supplies in on Sunday night. More than 100 people have stayed at the Red Cross shelter located at Missouri State Southern College since the tornado hit. Having a safe, warm place to stay is particularly important now given yesterday’s wet weather and the continuing threat of severe storms.

As residents return to their homes to see what they can recover, and first responders continue to search for the missing, Red Cross vehicles will be circulating through neighborhoods to provide water, snacks and much needed emotional support. Another six response vehicles from out of state will be arriving in Joplin this week.

The Red Cross estimates that it will spend as much as $41 million responding to the disasters that have affected the country since March 31, and to date, about $33.6 million has been raised in donations for these responses.

Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; you can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

 

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Southern United States

Across the South, residents are dealing with a trail of disasters that have left thousands of homes destroyed, and have wreaked havoc in communities large and small.

As people along the Mississippi River continue to watch the rising waters, towns hit by April’s deadly tornadoes are still picking up the pieces. Currently, more than 2,000 Red Cross workers are on the ground in the South to help communities hit by these disasters.

The tornado and flood responses are just the latest in what has been a string of relief operations across the country this spring. Since March 31, the Red Cross has launched relief operations in more than 20 states responding to wildfires, floods and tornadoes—all the way from North Dakota to the East Coast and throughout the South.

In addition to deploying more than 8,000 workers since late March—most of them volunteers—the Red Cross has also trained 6,226 people to help in the relief operations. These newly trained workers now have the skills to help the tornado and flood survivors, and will also be prepared to help during the upcoming hurricane season.
 

 

Japan

The Japanese Red Cross Society is scaling up its relief operations to help meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of survivors who are now housed in evacuation centers following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, which devastated large tracts of northeastern Honshu, the main island of Japan.

About 264,000 people are staying in the approximately 1,800 shelters operated by the government and supported by the Japanese Red Cross. Each day, approximately 10,000 people leave the evacuation centers and return to their homes as electricity is restored. But most do not know how long they will remain in the public shelters.

To date, the Japanese Red Cross has handed out more than 125,000 blankets and 20,700 emergency kits – including portable radios, flashlights and other supplies – to help evacuees cope with the cold weather and lack of electricity. Other badly needed items, such as diapers, baby food, undershirts and face masks, are being procured from within the country as well. These additional supplies will benefit approximately 100,000 people.

Officials from the Japanese Red Cross have publicly said they are grateful for donations from the American Red Cross and that they will go far to support these relief and recovery activities.

The American Red Cross has made an initial contribution of $10 million to the Japanese Red Cross Society and is funding about half of the United Nations World Food Programme’s (WFP) logistical operation designed to help move and store relief supplies post-disaster.

 

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Tunisian-Libyan Border

In one area of the border crossing between Tunisia and Libya, where thousands of refugees have been squatting, there are makeshift tents made from blankets and luggage.

The residents of these makeshift tents are waiting to join the more fortunate ones who are spending the night in tents provided by the local authorities, the global Red Cross network, the Tunisian Red Crescent and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The global Red Cross network, together with its member National Societies, is taking action to improve the difficult conditions for the stranded refugees. To date the American Red Cross has deployed three emergency responders to help assess the extent of the humanitarian needs. It has also committed $100,000, as well as donated 25,000 blankets and 5,000 tarpaulins.

All of these supplies will feed into the transition camp that the Red Cross is setting up 6 kilometres (almost 4 miles) from the border point. The camp is expected to host up to 10,000 people in need of assistance.

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Website:

www.redcross.org - American Red Cross

 

“He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the ash heap.” Psalm 113:7