Pakistan Quake Relief and Recovery Efforts Continue

In the high mountains of northern Pakistan, thousands of survivors from the October 8 earthquake must deal not only with the loss of shelter but also with the bitter cold of the Himalayan winter. While the most fortunate survivors have tents, plastic sheeting, kerosene heaters, and blankets, many people have very few resources to stave off the cold.

Church World Service continues to provide emergency winter relief to thousands of quake survivors - including tents, heaters, blankets, and woolen clothing - and has expanded its response operations to include much needed psycho-social care; distribution of health and hygiene kits; and expansion of water and sanitation systems in its tent villages. CWS has also begun recovery and rehabilitation planning with many survivors in anticipation of spring and warmer weather, including a construction training program for young men in the trades of masonry, carpentry, plumbing, welding and electrical - all skills that will be essential when actual rebuilding work can begin in April.

Disciples through Week of Compassion have now provided $283,000 for quake relief in Pakistan and India, including $272,000 for the CWS appeal. Our goal of $300,000 should be reached in the next few weeks. WOC is grateful for the many, many designated gifts from Disciples members and friends who are making this strong response possible.

Congregational Map Update

For congregations using the WOC Map/Poster, please visit the WOC website for a summary of this week's responses as well as those for all of 2006. The WOC office would like very much to hear from you as to how you are using the Map/Poster and how it is being received in your congregation.
Check Out the Map!

Help Sent to Philippines

Last week Week of Compassion rushed an initial grant of $5000 to Disciples church partner, the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP), in response to the devastating landslide in Southern Leyte province. Hundreds of people, perhaps as many as fifteen hundred, were killed.

After further assessment, the General Secretary of the UCCP has requested additional funding to meet immediate needs for shelter, food and medical care for survivors, as well as to begin reconstruction and rebuilding efforts. More than 60 members of a local UCCP congregation in Barangay Guinsaugon were killed, including the pastor and his young son. The church building was also destroyed. WOC is sending another grant of $5000 for the response work of our UCCP partners.

Other disaster responses this week include a WOC grant to an urgent appeal from Action by Churches Together (ACT) to assist some 200 farming families in Bolivia where heavy rains and flooding damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, farms and communities in January and February.

Don't Forget, You Can Also Donate Online

The annual Week of Compassion Offering Observance continues in congregations across the U.S. and Canada. It is possible to make gifts to WOC via our website and have those gifts credited to the congregation of the donor's choosing.
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