Emergency Response

August 21, 2009

Taiwan: Assistance to the Victims of Typhoon Morakot

A powerful tropical storm, Typhoon Morakot, hit the island of Taiwan on Saturday, August 8, 2009, dropping 2.6 metres of rain, with winds of up to 185 km/h. 

The typhoon caused massive flooding and mudslides affecting several villages in Southern Taiwan. The mudslides occurred on Sunday morning when many people were still asleep. The villages were more populated than usual as many children had returned home from school to celebrate Father’s Day on Saturday.  The Taiwanese government has said the death toll is over 500, with over 400 killed by a mudslide in Hsiaolin Village.  This news was reported as workers struggled to rescue thousands more people trapped in mountain villages.  Losses and damages to island infrastructure are estimated to be around US$3.4 billion.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT), a United Church partner, has issued an appeal* for support from its partners overseas. The United Church of Canada has responded with $5,000 from its Emergency Response Fund. The United Church is also pleased to pass on to the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan the sum of $20,000, which was received as a special donation from the Taiwanese United Church in Toronto and designated for the victims of Typhoon Morakot.

Peru:  Assistance to the Victims of Attacks on Indigenous Protestors in Peru

On June 5, 2009, a group of Indigenous protestors were attacked by police near Bagua, Peru leaving over 50 protestors dead and 150 wounded.

Many of the most seriously wounded were taken to hospitals in Chiclayo where our partner, Centro Esperanza, is involved in assisting the victims and their families. The United Church of Canada has contributed $2,000 from the Emergency Response Fund to support these efforts, including needs such as medicine, rehabilitation, and support for the victim’s families.

Peru: Support for Relief Efforts in Response to the Cold Wave Affecting Southern Peru

A wave of cold weather has been affecting the southern highlands of Peru since May,  causing hardship for small-scale Indigenous farm families in the area. Not only have crops been affected, but many people have become ill with severe respiratory infections. Children—particularly those suffering from chronic malnutrition—have been most severely impacted with over 250 deaths reported in the region.

The United Church of Canada’s partner, The Association of Andean Women (AMA), is active in many villages in the affected region. The United Church has contributed $2,000 from its Emergency Response Fund to assist them in support of their direct relief efforts—particularly helping to provide warm clothing and medicines to the most affected highland communities in the Cuzco area.

Honduras: Assistance to Victims of Political Violence

The June 28, 2009, coup d'état in Honduras has provoked a humanitarian crisis: internal displacement and human rights violations (including arbitrary detentions) have moved churches to respond. Through Action by Churches Together (ACT), The United Church of Canada has sent $5,000 to support humanitarian efforts led by the Christian Commission for Development (CCD) in Honduras. For more information, please see the message of a recent "Living Letters" visit to Honduras.