EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #6918 for $100,000
Signed by the Rev. John L. McCullough, CWS Executive Director
SITUATION: At least 4 million
people have been affected by severe flooding in the Indian states of Assam,
Bihar and West Bengal, as well as in neighboring Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Some 300 people are feared dead and it is believed that millions have lost
their homes, Reuters reports. The flooding has also caused immense damage
to crops, livestock and infrastructure.
RESPONSE: The Action by Churches
Together (ACT) International network has issued an appeal for $693,088
to support efforts in India by Lutheran World Service-India and Church's
Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), a long-time
CWS partner.
In issuing this appeal, CWS is supporting the efforts of CASA, which seeks to provide clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils, dry food (including rice) and tents to 8,500 affected families in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable populations, such as women, children, the elderly and members of marginalized groups.
CASA's portion of the appeal is $234,472; this includes $19,318 for blankets; $115,909 for tents; and $17,386 for rice.
CWS is asking its member denominations for $80,000 to assist CASA's relief efforts; in addition, CWS is securing $20,000 in CWS blanket funds for use by CASA.
Denominations can support the appeal by sending contributions to Church World Service in Elkhart (India Flooding, # 6918). For more detailed information on the CWS response, contact CWS/ERP.
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. India Flooding, # 6918 for $100,000, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222. On-line contributions to: http://www.churchworldservice.org
Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111.
For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response.
Telephone: (212) 870-3151
E-mail: chris@ncccusa.org
After-hours emergency pager: (800) 780-0853
CHURCH WORLD SERVICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE
PROGRAM
Church World Service is the Humanitarian Agency of the National Council
of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
35 Denominations & Communions Working Together to Meet Human Needs
Internet Web Site: <http://www.cwserp.org>