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How to Help: |
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1. Pray for the people of Haiti, their leaders, and emergency and humanitarian aid workers. 2. To assist impacted families, you may, send gifts payable to your congregation marked for "OGHS – Haitian Relief" with the request they be sent through your Conference office on to Wider Church Ministries. OR Send gifts, made out to the Missionary Society of Connecticut and marked in the memo portion "OGHS – Haitian Relief" to Connecticut Conference UCC, 125 Sherman St., Hartford, CT 06105. OR Send gifts, made out to Wider Church Ministries and marked in the memo portion "OGHS – Haitian Relief" to Wider Church Ministries; 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115. OR Donate Now to Provide Emergency Relief In Haiti Make a secure online donation to the OGHS International Disaster Relief fund. Thank you for your compassion and support. |
Haitian Earthquake News |
United Church of Christ Press Release
PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI (01/13/2010) -- A 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti just before 5:00 pm on Tuesday, January 12, 2010 with major damage and loss of life feared. Striking 10 miles west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince, with a population of over 2 million, the shallow quake has been followed by several significant aftershocks.
The United Church of Christ has launched an emergency appeal for Haiti. Thousands of people are feared dead and countless have been left homeless.
It is still too early to know the full extent of the damage, but One Great Hour of Sharing is expecting very high loss of life, widespread destruction of homes, schools and other buildings, and major damage to key water, electricity and road systems.
Global Ministries personnel, Kim, Patrick and Solomon Bentrott have reported in that they are safe.
Haiti's Ambassador to the United States, his Excellency Raymond Alcide Joseph, fears the earthquake is "a catastrophe of major proportions." Mike Godfrey of USAID in Haiti reported seeing a "huge cloud of smoke and dust" over Port-au-Prince which appeared shortly after the initial earthquake and lingered for 20 minutes. Such a cloud is likely to arise from the cement dust released in the collapse of buildings.
News reports from the island nation describe widespread devastation. Photographs show collapsed buildings in the capital city, including severe damage to the Presidential Palace.
Attempts by United Church of Christ and Global Ministries staff to contact partners and Global Ministries personnel in Haiti will continue. Land and cell phone service is severely disrupted.
One Great Hour of Sharing funds are being rushed to our Haitian partners to support their initial emergency response. As damage assessments are made and plans for relief, recovery and rehabilitation are developed, additional OGHS funds will be shared with our partners.
