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Many humanitarian organizations are in the midst of trying to help the victims of the two natural catastrophes to hit Asia recently.One such organization is the Humanitarian agency Church World Service. The Rev Chuck Currie says
In the China earthquake’s aftermath, officials with the Amity Foundation, a long-time Church World Service partner in China, report that many buildings, including government facilities, have collapsed or are severely damaged, and that the demand on local emergency responders is great.
Donations to the appeal will help fund relief efforts by Amity Foundation, whose staff members now are assessing the damage from Chengdu and other affected areas. Amity already has provided 1 million Yuan (approximately US$143,000) to purchase and distribute drinking water and food for heavily-damaged Du Jiangyan.
Amity will focus its relief on some 8,000 families whose homes are destroyed and who are among the most-vulnerable. Amity expects to ensure that 16,000 of the most vulnerable individuals have sufficient food (15 kilos of rice per person) during the immediate emergency period; that 8,000 families have sufficient additional protection against cold weather in the form of quilts; that 8,000 homeless families also have the added protection of plastic cloth to help them survive heavy rains forecast for the quake center areas.
As part of the recovery effort Amity will help rebuild 600 damaged or destroyed houses, 10 schools and five hospitals or clinics, and also will rehabilitate five water and irrigation systems.
The total budget is estimated at close to $1.5 million.
I can’t complain, being here safe at home, clicking away at my keyboard, but the most frustrating aspect of these disasters is the feeling of complete helplessness against the power of nature and the fragility of life.
People like the Amity Foundation and the Church World Service help both the victims and us - who want to help and now can do so from the comfort of our own homes.
for more information on the efforts go to Rev. Curries site and to help the effort finacialy you may donate online here.
