SITUATION: Chile has asked for international assistance following the devastating Feb. 27 earthquake -- a disaster that President Michelle Bachelet called "an emergency unparalleled in the history of Chile" and, at latest count, left 711 people dead.
Rescue efforts continue in the hardest-hit areas; the United Nations said Chile had asked for mobile bridges, generators, water filtration equipment, field hospitals and surgical centers, as well as help from damage-assessment teams, The New York Times reported. The earthquake was one of the strongest in recorded history.
The quake's death toll is expected to rise as a growing number of people are reported missing. The destruction of infrastructure, including homes, hospitals and bridges is being called tremendous, with priority needs identified as including water, water filters, generators, shelter, food and personal hygiene items.
RESPONSE: CWS is supporting efforts of local partners as they assess damage and prepare initial relief efforts. CWS is providing a rapid response cash grant of $15,000 to the Methodist Church of Chile, known by its Spanish acronym IMECH, and will also support, as needed, efforts by FASIC -- the Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas, Foundation of Social Aid of Christian Churches.
FASIC, which is also connected with the Methodist Church, reported that a joint assessment of damage and needs is planned for the region of Rancagua and Concepcion and a coal-producing zone. A team comprising staff of IMECH, Lutheran Evangelical Churches of Chile, Pentecostal Churches and CLAI, the Latin American Council of Churches - Chile, will work this week on the assessments. The assessments will serve as the basis for specific response by ACT members such as CWS and their partners.
Other ACT Alliance members active in Chile include the Lutheran World Federation and the regional organization Centro Regional Ecuménico de Asesoría y Servicio, known by the acronym CREAS.
CWS had established cooperation with FASIC and IMECH in the area of emergency management training and resettlement of refugees in Chile before the earthquake.
HOW TO HELP: Contributions to support the CWS emergency response efforts may be sent to your denomination or to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN, 46515, designated for Chile EQ response - Appeal Code # 6763.
Church World Service is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of churches and agencies engaged in development, humanitarian assistance and advocacy.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS Hotline, (800) 297-1516.
CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151 Program Director: dderr@churchworldservice.org