January 12, 2005

The United Church of Christ is supporting Church World Service tsunami relief and rehabilitation efforts as one part of our overall response being conducted by global partners throughout the Southern Asia region. Church World Service is focusing its response on Indonesia.

Situation

CWS Indonesia reports the following developments about its response to the tsunami disaster, focusing on efforts in Banda Aceh:

Medicines requested by a CWS medical team working in Banda Aceh were delivered on Tuesday, Jan. 11, from Medan, Indonesia, to Banda Aceh.(Medan is the capital city of Indonesia's North Sumatra province.) CWS medical teams responding in Banda Aceh will begin applying a "rotating system" of deployment and a new medical team will arrive in Banda Aceh on Wednesday, Jan. 12.

A large shipment of CWS Blankets and "Gift of the Heart" Health Kits have been sent to Banda Aceh from Jakarta and are to arrive for distribution this week.

Earlier this week, warehoused goods that included drinking water and mattresses arrived in Banda Aceh for distribution, as did 1,000 CWS Blankets and 500 CWS "Gift of the Heart" Health Kits. In addition, more than 1,300 food packets were distributed in the affected areas of Lambaro, Sibreh and Darussalam.

CWS Indonesia also reports that CWS, together with 30 volunteers from its local partner Mamamia in Banda Aceh, are distributing food to those without homes but not living in camps. Government officials report that that the number of internally displaced persons in Aceh and North Sumatra is now 655,144 - including those living in camps and in temporary shelter.

The United Church of Christ values its membership in Church World Service and the ministry we are able to accomplish ecumenically. We are committed to long-term support of the people affected by the tsunami as they rebuild their lives and communities.

How you can help

1. Pray for the people fo Asia and Africa affected by the Tsunami and our partners who are engaged in relief and rehabilitation efforts.

2. To assist those affected, make gifts payable to your UCC Congregation, marked for "Tsunami Relief Fund" in the memo portion, to be sent to your Conference Office with a note asking that the gift be forwarded to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.

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3. Make gifts payable to Wider Church Ministries, marked in the memo portion "Tsunami Relief Fund" and send to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115.

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4. Make a secure on-line donation now by clicking on the orange OGHS CONTRIBUTE button on this page. Click on Tsunami Relief Fund.

Cash donations made by January 31, 2005 are deductable from 2004 U.S. Taxes