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The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is responding to people affected in the Philippines, Samoa and Indonesia following three disasters this week. "Our prayers are with the people who are hurting as a result of this devastation. UMCOR is committed to addressing their needs and especially reaching out to those who are most vulnerable," said Sam Dixon, UMCOR's top executive.

South Pacific Earthquake and Tsunamis

Four powerful tsunamis generated by a huge undersea quake crashed into Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa on Tuesday, UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response unit has been in touch with FEMA and with the California Pacific Annual Conference of which American Samoa is a member. More than 32,000 people are displaced and 147 people are confirmed dead.

UMCOR has been in touch with Bishop Mary Ann Swenson and a number of established partners who already have a physical presence in Samoa and Tonga. To help people affected by the tsunamis, support may be offered through UMCOR's International Disaster Response: UMCOR Advance #982450.

West Sumatra Earthquake

A major earthquake struck West Sumatra on September 30, 2009 causing major damage to the provincial capital of Padang and Pariaman District. UMCOR established its field offices in Indonesia following the December 2004 tsunami. Country operations are based in Medan with field offices in Banda Aceh and Bireuen. UMCOR is working closely with its partners in the area, including Church World Service to assess the needs and coordinate an appropriate response.

UMCOR Indonesia continues to help those affected by the 2005 tsunami and the 30 year conflict preceding it. To support the relief efforts, please give generously to Indonesia Emergency, UMCOR Advance #217400.

Philippines Typhoon

UMCOR Philippines is working with its local partners including Action by Churches Together (ACT) and the National Council of Churches to provide relief to those affected by Typhoon Ketsana, also called Ondoy, in the Philippines.

UMCOR Philippines is distributing emergency provisions including bottled water, blankets canned fish and rice. UMCOR Philippines anticipates expanding the response through local and international partners in addition to partnering with the Manila Episcopal area including local church disaster response coordinators. Support for UMCOR's relief work in the Philippines can be made through Philippines Emergency, UMCOR Advance #240235.

UMCOR Distributes Relief Supplies in the Philippines

By Linda Bloom
United Methodist News Service

United Methodists have been working to get emergency supplies to families affected Typhoon Ketsana in the Philippines.

"With the limited supplies we had on hand, we were able to supply immediate relief to about 500 families," reported Melissa Crutchfield, the executive in charge of international disaster response for the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Volunteers are preparing supplies at UMCOR's Philippines Office, located on the campus of Union Theological Seminary in Cavite, about 50 miles south of Manila. They are assembling packets of rice, sardines, coffee, oil, sugar, and special items for women and children to distribute in evacuation centers. Some blankets also were available for flood victims.

Church members in the United Methodist Manila Episcopal Area are collecting supplies as well, Crutchfield noted.

Nearly 2 million people in the Manila area were affected by the flooding from the late September storm, which at one point left most of the capital city under water and resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 people in the Philippines.

A second storm, Typhoon Parma, was heading toward the Philippines on Oct. 2. "I think people are bracing themselves for the new storm this weekend," Crutchfield said. "We're keeping a close eye on it."

Representatives of UMCOR, Christian Aid and the National Council of Churches in the Philippines met Oct. 1 to discuss how to handle relief work. The trio will appeal to Action by Churches Together International for funding, she added.

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines reported on its Web site that the organization would be distributing relief goods Oct. 2 in the Rizal area in cooperation with United Methodist-related Harris Memorial College. Supplies also have been distributed to three poor urban communities in Metro Manila: Tatalon, Payatas and North Triangle.

Because the flooding in Metro Manila has received a lot of attention, Crutchfield expects UMCOR will focus on bordering provinces, such as Bulacan and Pampanga. Ciony Eduarte, who runs the UMCOR Philippines office, will continue to coordinate relief efforts with local partners, bishops and volunteers.

UMCOR conducted disaster relief training for Filipino United Methodists over the summer. For three days before the office opened in July, Crutchfield and Lisa Jackson, another staff executive, led workshops on developing a disaster response plan with church representatives from different regions of the Philippines.

In a letter to "all United Methodists," Bishop Lito Cabacungan Tangonan of the Manila Episcopal Area called for assistance. "The calamity brought havoc to the lives of our people, and they need our prayers, financial support and helping hands during this time of calamity," he wrote.

United Methodist Bishop Benjamin Justo told Ecumenical News International that the massive damage from the floods was "primarily caused by man's sins of social irresponsibility, neglect, opportunism, laziness and lack of vision."

The National Council of Churches in the Philippines has documented cases of drainage systems being clogged with tons of garbage, mostly plastics. It said the floods could hardly recede because of the blocked waterways, ENI reported.