PC(USA) responds to powerful earthquake in the Philippines
Partners providing humanitarian assistance in Indonesia as well
LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is responding to the recent, deadly earthquake in the Philippines by supporting partners in the region, where scores of individuals and families have been affected by the disaster, which also rocked Indonesia.
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Philippines’ Sarangani Province and neighboring areas on June 8, leading to more than 60 deaths and extensive damage to buildings and community infrastructure, according to partners and news reports. Sarangani is located in the southern tip of Mindanao Island.
Those springing into action to help include the United Church of Christ in the Philippines through its United Church Aid and Relief Services (UCCP Cares) as well as the YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU) in Indonesia. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has issued solidarity grants to both of those partners to meet humanitarian needs, said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, manager of international response for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) in Partnerships Beyond the PC(USA), which is part of Presbyterian Life & Witness.
The powerful earthquake, which triggered tsunami warnings and numerous aftershocks, occurred on the first day of school in the Philippines as many children were gathering for flag-raising ceremonies, according to the Associated Press. Thousands of school buildings will need to be assessed before classes can resume.
A lot of the deaths resulted from falling debris from collapsed buildings and landslides in hard-hit General Santos and the provinces of Sarangani, South Cotabato and Davao Occidental, according to AP.
Numerous UCCP churches have been damaged with severe architectural collapse occurring inside key regional sanctuaries, according to UCCP Cares.
Waves up to 4.6 feet above tide level were measured in the southern Philippines and smaller ones made it to Indonesia and other places, such as Japan, according to the AP.
“In response to this disaster, UCCP Cares, in coordination with the affected conferences and local churches, has mobilized emergency relief efforts to provide food assistance, drinking water, hygiene supplies, temporary shelter materials, psychosocial support, and other essential services to the most vulnerable families,” according to correspondence from the relief organization. “We are deeply grateful for your concern, prayers, and commitment to standing with those affected during this difficult time. Your support will make a meaningful difference in helping communities recover and rebuild their lives.”
YEU is mobilizing to address similar needs in Indonesia, where many people were forced to evacuate and are living in emergency tents.
“YEU intends to respond in collaboration with the church network (Evangelical Christian Church in Sangihe Talaud), deploying volunteers to fulfil the basic and essential needs of the affected population through distribution of tarpaulins and drinking water that will benefit at least 800 people,” according to the organization. “Besides that, food packages will also be distributed to address the specific needs of the older people, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities based on the need assessment conducted by the emergency response team in coordination with the local stakeholders.”
PDA and Global Ecumenical Partnerships of the PC(USA) are continuing to monitor the situation in the region, where the denomination has historical ties.
“We've responded to many disasters in the Philippines — typhoons and tsunamis and earthquakes and volcanoes, among other things — through the years,” Kraus said.
Both Kraus and Carlton Cobbie Palm, Global Ecumenical Liaison for Southeast Asia, noted a close tie between PC(USA) and UCCP.
“UCCP Cares, which serves the UCCP as its own disaster assistance program, was nurtured into being after the 2013 Typhoon Haiyan when the PC(USA)/PDA embedded itself in the Philippines for an extended period of time, and before leaving the Philippines, helped the UCCP develop … UCCP Cares,” Palm said. “The UCCP will be forever grateful to the PC(USA) for this gesture of mentoring, and UCCP Cares is doing excellent work.”
To help with earthquake response in the Philippines and Indonesia, consider making a gift to PDA’s disaster response fund for southeast Asia here. It supplements One Great Hour of Sharing.
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