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18.05.2020

"United against Covid-19"

One activity of the Protestant Church in West Papua: distribution of protective clothing for church hospitals; Photo: Joyce da Costa / UEM

By joining forces, Protestant churches are helping their partners in Africa and Asia to contain the consequences of the Corona pandemic. They are providing a total of over 1.5 million euros for this purpose. The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) in Wuppertal has set up an aid fund of one million euros. The Evangelical Church of Westphalia and the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland are each contributing 250,000 euros.
The Protestant state churches in Hesse and Lippe are contributing another 50,000 euros. And the African and Asian member churches of the UEM are topping up the "United against Covid-19" fund with almost 20,000 euros.
In many countries in Africa and Asia, the health system is completely inadequate and the hygienic conditions are poor. People are starving because they have no work because of curfews. In many countries the markets have also been closed because of the corona virus. These markets are often the only place where farmers can sell their produce and families can buy their food. In any case, harvests are often lower because farmers cannot sow sensibly at present: seeds are stuck at borders, transhipment stations or on ships. There is also a lack of harvest workers.
A four-member task force, which the UEM Management Team set up at the beginning of April, coordinates the allocation of project funds. The UEM focuses its activities on countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa and Tanzania. Depending on individual needs, activities from the following four areas are supported: Prevention, support for the most vulnerable, support for health facilities of the member churches as well as preaching and pastoral care.
The UEM emergency fund distributes food to the poorest and provides access to clean water. The money is also used to buy medical items such as infrared clinical thermometers, disinfectants and soap. Individuals sew protective masks and are supported in this. In addition, church hospitals and health stations receive support. Awareness campaigns, also on radio and television, raise the awareness of the population. Victims of domestic violence and the acutely stressed health personnel receive pastoral care. The churches are also trained and equipped to conduct online services.

Up-to-date information about the emergency efforts: www.vemission.org/united-against-corona

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