Brethren Disaster Ministries
Updates
Grants go to Disasters in Asia, South Pacific
Recent grants from the Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) of the Church of the Brethren totaling $169,000 are supporting disaster relief following two earthquakes in Indonesia, the massive tsunami in American Samoa, a typhoon in the Philippines and Cambodia, and for displaced persons in Pakistan.
Indonesia
The Emergency Disaster Fund has given $69,000 for emergency relief on the Indonesian island of Sumatra following the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck Sept. 30. The grant supports efforts by Church World Service (CWS), longtime ecumenical and international partner of the Church of the Brethren. CWS has distributed tarpaulins, blankets and water to affected communities, and work has begun on sanitation facilities. The long-term response will include reconstruction and livelihood recovery assistance. An earlier grant of $15,000 went to West Java Province following a 7.2 magnitude quake on Sept. 2.
American Samoa
An EDF allocation of $10,000 for American Samoa follows the massive tsunami that swept over the island on Sept 29. The funds are supporting local relief efforts and startup of the long-term recovery process. The giant 20-foot high wave claimed the lives of at least 146 Samoans as it flooded coastal villages. An 8.0-magnitude earthquake 120 miles off the coast is to blame for the disaster.
Philippines and Cambodia
A grant of $20,000 is helping CWS and Action by Churches Together (ACT) provide assistance in the Philippines following extensive flooding from Typhoon Ketsana, on Sept. 26, affecting more than three million people. The grant is helping to provide emergency food and household supplies for 98,000 of the most vulnerable flood survivors. An additional $15,000 grant is supporting work in Cambodia following the same typhoon. Longer-term response will include fresh water wells and other forms of water management.
Pakistan
The EDF is also providing $40,000 for assistance to displaced families in Pakistan. This grant is supporting CWS programs that provide for the basic needs of displaced persons, mobile health services, staffing schools, vocational training for adults, and special programs for women.
To make online donations to the Emergency Disaster Fund go to www.brethren.org/disaster.
(Cheryl Brumbaugh Cayford and Jane Yount contributed to this article.)
Haiti Mission is volunteer focus
With many survivors still living in tents and makeshift shelters in Haiti, volunteers from Brethren Disaster Ministries are rebuilding 100 homes devastated by last years hurricanes. Managing such a large international project is a new experience for the Brethren who are often active in U.S. domestic disaster response.
Read the full story at http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=3977
Reproduced with permission from Disaster News Network http://www.disasternews.net/
(c) 2009 Village Life Company
Children's artwork lines the walls of the disaster assistance center in Marietta, Ga. Photo by John Surr |
Children's Disaster Services responds to Georgia floods
Severe flooding in the Atlanta, Georgia metro area in late September prompted more than 12,400 families to apply for federal disaster assistance. Judy Bezon, Children's Disaster Services associate director, joined a team of four volunteer caregivers to coordinate a CDS response in Marietta. For six days, the caregivers provided a safe and comforting environment for 105 children affected by the floods.
BDM monitoring disasters in Samoa, Indonesia
Tsunami damage at the port of Pago Pago. Photo by Casey Deshong/FEMA | A massive tsunami swept over the South Pacific island of Samoa and surrounding islands on Tuesday, September 29. The giant 20-foot high wave claimed the lives of at least 146 Samoans as it swept over coastal villages, and the death toll is expected to rise. An 8.0-magnitude earthquake 120 miles off the coast of Samoa is being blamed for the disaster.
American Samoa has received a disaster declaration from President Obama, allowing deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency response teams to this U.S. Territory.
The very next day, September 30, at least 770 people on the Indonesian island of Sumatra were killed by a 7.6-magnitude earthquake, and rescuers continue searching the rubble for survivors. Particularly hard-hit was the city of Padang, the provincial capital. Padang’s hospital was heavily damaged.
Church World Service (CWS) Indonesia staff report that the level of damage is “far worse” than the September 2 earthquake that rattled West Java. CWS, a longtime international partner of Brethren Disaster Ministries, is responding with non-food relief items such as family tents, blankets and relief kits.
Brethren Disaster Ministries is monitoring both situations through Church World Service. BDM stands ready if needed to help fund material resource shipments through CWS to alleviate the human suffering caused by these disasters.
Changes for children suggested - September 20, 2009
Children make up nearly 25 percent of the U.S. population, but during disasters emergency managers are required to meet the needs of pets -- not children. Instead, children are grouped in special needs categories with the elderly and disabled.
Read the full story at http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=3956
Reproduced with permission from Disaster News Network http://www.disasternews.net/
(c) 2009 Village Life Company"
BDM focuses on H1N1 flu prevention (PDF)
Important information regarding the H1N1 flu virus
Brethren Disaster Ministries is now on Facebook!
Keep in touch with BDM by joining the Facebook group.
BDM Water bottles make a splash
In April of 2009, BDM started distributing reusable water bottles to all its volunteers in an effort to cut down on the number of disposable bottles being used. Since then BDM estimates it has saved approximately $700 and nearly 5,000 plastic bottles from landfills.
Don’t forget to bring your BDM bottle next time you volunteer!Thank you for doing your part to help BDM be a good steward of finances and the environment.
Notes from the field
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2008 Emergency Disaster Fund statistics
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