Denominational Organisations Lead Relief Effort to Asia Quake Survivors

Three days after the devastating tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the death toll has risen above 70,000. Aid agencies and Western countries are stepping up efforts to help survivors of the earthquake in terms of finance, human resources and supplies.

The US has more than doubled its pledge of funds to US$35m while on Wednesday the UK government pledged £15m (US$29m) to help the first phase of the relief effort - making Britain the second largest donor after the US.

Denominations across the world have also joined in the relief effort as an action to demonstrate the love of Christ among those who suffer. The Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, has formed a partnership with Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) Medical and Relief Team to support Colombo, Sri Lanka.

BWAid has allocated an initial US$25,000 for relief work in the affected Asian countries, working with and through the local indigenous leaders. It has given $5,000 towards the expenses of the Hungarian team, which will help the victims in Sri Lanka by using US$110,000 worth of medicines and medical supplies. Other Baptist relief groups have also expressed their readiness to serve through BWAid.

The UK-based mission agency BMS World Mission operates in Sri Lanka, Indonesia (specifically the island of Sumatra), India and Thailand. Relief work has already started in Sri Lanka and an initial assessment has been made.

BMS Director for Mission David Kerrigan announced on Tuesday an initial US$50,000 grant has been approved. He called for the support of all British Baptist Churches to take up special offerings in aid of the emergency in South Asia.

The first phase of the relief work will cover food and drinking water, medical supplies and water pumps, benefiting up to 5,000 families. Secondary needs will include dry rations and temporary shelters.

Kerrigan added, "If we want to support our major partners I hope we can find the funds in the coming weeks. Most of us have enjoyed a comfortable Christmas - now the question is whether we can dig deep and offer something meaningful to those who have lost so much."

Indonesian Baptist leader, Victor Rembeth has expressed "thanks for a very quick response to prayer and your concerns to all the victims of the Tsunamis." He sees this as an opportunity "to show our Christian love to the people in the area."

As a partner of the Action by Churches Together (ACT) International, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund (MRDF) has launched an appeal to aid the victims immediately after the disaster.

Kevin Fray, MRDF Supporter Relations Coordinator, said "many of us were shocked to see the scenes of destruction after the earthquake and waves struck across a wide part of the Asia Pacific region. MRDF will send the funds raised to the local relief agencies who need it most. We will as usual work closely with ACT to ensure that donations go quickly and effectively to those who are suffering."

Rev Dr Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, represented Lutherans worldwide to express a heart of sorrow in his public statement. Dr Noko reminds people of God's love and urged, "Though we may be unable to explain why these things have happened, all churches everywhere have an inherent diaconic responsibility to provide aid and support to those who have suffered the effects."

"This is the calling and a true mark of the church in the face of such terrible events. I appeal to all member churches of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) to urgently answer the cry for assistance in South East Asia."

Dr Noko also pointed out that the disaster illustrates with brutal force the fragility of human life and great endeavours, it is also "a reminder that we would do well to heed, at a time when even the relatively inadequate efforts by the international community to address climate change continue to be subverted and undermined by some of those most responsible."

He prayed that the shock of the present catastrophe would "awaken us all to a deeper sense of responsibility to suffering humanity in the affected areas, and of humility in our relationship to the planet we inhabit."

Additionally, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) is joining with its partner Church World Service to respond immediately to the massive earthquake disaster throughout Southern Asia. IOCC has established a goal of $100,000 for the initial phase of its relief efforts. This appeal will be updated as response and recovery actions continue and expand in the coming days.