Church World Service assists Iraqi refugees in Jordan
Jordan
Some two million Iraqis have fled their homes for neighboring countries. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, requiring "sustained attention, both in Iraq and outside Iraq as more Iraqis become displaced," says Steve Weaver, CWS Middle East emergency liaison, who is assessing how CWS can best respond to the displacement crisis.
Weaver reports that at worship last Sunday (June 3) at St. Ephraim Syrian Orthodox Church in the Jordanian capital, Amman, Father Emmanuel Al Bana, who is Iraqi, thanked CWS and the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), a long-time CWS partner, for a recent shipment of CWS Blankets and Kits. The MECC distributed the items to displaced Iraqi families. Look for more from Steve Weaver in the weeks ahead.
Earthquake leaves tens of thousands homeless in China
China
A 6.4-magnitude earthquake has caused the evacuation of at least 180,000 people in Ning'er County, southern Yunnan Province. The quake collapsed more than 90,000 houses and damaged some 270,000, according to state media reports.
Church World Service and other Action by Churches Together coalition members are supporting the efforts of the Amity Foundation, a long-time Church World Service partner, as it provides rice, quilts, and plastic sheeting for 2,000 of the most vulnerable homeless families. Amity is also planning to assist the reconstruction of 100 houses, two village schools, and three irrigation systems in the post-crisis phase.
Church World Service is seeking funds to assist quake recovery efforts in China.