RCWS Responds to Disasters in Oman and China
Reformed Church World Service (RCWS) is responding to two disasters that occurred in Oman and China during the week of June 4, 2007.
RCWS is sending $15,000 through Church World Service to the Amity Foundation, our partner in China, to respond to an earthquake that affected more than one million persons in the southern part of China's Yunan province, considered one of the poorest areas in China.
RCWS is also sending $10,000 to the Protestant Church of Oman (PCO) to help with recovery after Cyclone Gonu, which caused extensive damage to the Ghala church property in Muscat.
In China, the Church World Service–supported response through the Amity Foundation will help alleviate suffering and meet the basic needs of 2,000 of the most vulnerable people affected by the earthquake. Many of these people are farmers who lost their houses. There was also heavy damage to irrigation systems, hospitals, and schools. Specific objectives of the response include providing rice, quilts, and plastic sheeting and helping to rebuild houses, irrigation systems, and schools.
In Oman, Cyclone Gonu caused heavy rains and high winds, which resulted in overflowing wadis (similar to drainage ditches) and dams filled to the brim. Great rivers of mud washed over and through the church in Ghala, causing severe damage to the PCO as well as all the other churches in the compound. Damage to the buildings and equipment is estimated at $200,000. Volunteers have begun clean-up of the silt and mud in the building and compound.
Although needs in Oman and China are great, RCWS currently has some reserves available for immediate assistance in both countries.
Contributions to RCWS for Oman, designated for "Tropical Storms," or for China, designated for "Int'l Disasters/General," can be sent to Reformed Church in America, P.O. Box 19381, Newark, NJ 07195-1938 or, in Canada, to Regional Synod of Canada, 1985 Beke Rd., R.R. #4, Cambridge, ON N1R 5S5.
To donate by Visa or MasterCard, call the Michigan Regional Center at (800) 968-3943 or click on the "Make a Donation" button.
Watch a Video of the Oman Clean Up:
Posted 06/19/07
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