Despite Obstacles, Earthquake Recovery Continues

Thursday, September 14, A.D. 2006

It has been almost a year since a powerful earthquake devastated northern Pakistan and northwestern India. Nearly 75,000 people were killed and some 200,000 injured. While much of the world's attention has moved on to other disasters and concerns, humanitarian needs in the region remain enormous. Heavy rains, flash floods and landslides are now hampering recovery efforts, and tens of thousands of people remain without the most basic services.

Church World Service was one of the first organizations in Pakistan to respond to the quake and provided emergency assistance (including food, shelter and other basic relief items) to more than 30,000 families. [Johnny Wray visited CWS's program in Pakistan last spring and, in his words, "felt their efforts were nothing short of heroic."] Now CWS is focusing its efforts on long-term recovery and rehabilitation. Those efforts include assisting 4000 families with toilet and septic systems; renovating/repairing water systems for 8500 families; training 1785 men in the basic trades of carpentry, masonry, plumbing, welding and electricity; providing primary and secondary health services to 100,000 people; and working with 1000 widows in livestock development.

As winter approaches and so many people remain without basic services, CWS and its partner Norwegian Church Aid have also launched an emergency winter relief program to provide transitional shelter and food packages to 5000 of the most vulnerable and needful families.

CWS has issued a $20 million appeal to its U.S. member communions and its international partners through the Action by Churches Together. Because of the incredible generosity of Disciples, Week of Compassion has been able to provide $303,000 toward the appeal.

Make a donation online.

Volunteers Needed for Fall Disciples Habitat Builds

As the new two-year Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative gets underway, there is an urgent need for work groups this fall and especially for two upcoming Disciples/Habitat Builds - one in Lake Charles, LA, October 14-28, and the other in Beaumont, TX, November 4-18. Please call Tod Iseminger in Disciples Home Missions' Office of Disciples Volunteering at 888.346.2631 or 317.713.2649 for details and scheduling. The WOC Office has a limited number of hurricane work trip grants available. Information and applications can be downloaded from the WOC website - www.weekofcompassion.org.

WOC Map/Poster

For the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster, please visit our website at www.weekofcompassion.org. For a complimentary copy of the WOC map/poster for your congregation, contact Elaine Cleveland at 317.713.2442 or ecleveland@woc.disciples.org. We're looking for stories and photos of how congregations are using the map/poster. Click here to read how one congregation in Indianapolis is using theirs. We'd love to hear from you!