Storms and Earthquakes: UEM Communion mobilises 54,000 Euros

Thousands of families lost their homes and livelihoods due to powerful tropical storms and heavy flooding, while church buildings were destroyed: The Philippine UCCP*, a member church of the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), has launched emergency relief operations following the tropical storms Nando and Opong as well as a 6.9 earthquake on Cebu.

Regions in the north and centre of the Philippines are particularly affected. In Apayao, families of the indigenous Isnag community were trapped by landslides and cut off from access to food and drinking water. In Samar and Masbate, Typhoon Opong left entire villages in ruins. On Cebu, the earthquake caused dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries and severe damage to roads, power and water supplies, as well as to sewage systems.

International UEM communion stands together

Relief efforts are being coordinated by UCCP CARES in close cooperation with local church conferences, Barangay councils and municipal administrations. CARES is the humanitarian arm of the UCCP (United Church Aid and Relief Services Inc.). The UEM member churches EKiR*, EKvW*, EKKW*, and the UEM itself, stand with UCCP, contributing a total of 54,000 euros in emergency aid.

Donations are funding urgent relief measures

Donations support the church’s emergency response on the ground through the following urgent actions:

• Provision of food packages and clean drinking water

• Distribution of maintenance kits for repairing damaged homes and of tents as temporary shelters

• Seeds, fishing equipment, poultry and tools to restart people's normal self-sufficiency

• Medical and psychosocial care for traumatised children and families

• Reconstruction of damaged UCCP churches as places for worship and relief activities

Donations and prayers requested

Please support the UCCP and the UEM in their emergency relief work with donations and prayers – from both individuals and congregations.

You find our donation page here.

The UEM’s call to prayer (“Prayer Alert”) is available here.

 

*UCCP = United Church of Christ in the Philippines 

*EKiR = Evangelische Kirche im Rheinland (Evangelical Church in the Rhineland)

*EKvW = Evangelische Kirche von Westfalen (Evangelical Church in Westphalia)

*EKKW = Evangelische Kirche von Kurhessen-Waldeck (Evangelical Church of Hesse-Waldeck)