The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund

PRESS RELEASE

October 5 2009

TEAR Fund responding to Pacific Rim disasters

TEAR Fund has launched emergency appeals to aid the victims of the three disasters that have struck the region affecting Samoa, the Philippines and Indonesia

TEAR Fund NZ executive director Stephen Tollestrup said the week of September 27 had been for the Pacific Rim, a perfect storm, with a tsunami in Samoa that has taken lives, destroyed homes and livelihoods; massive flooding, displacing tens of thousands in Manila, affecting families of TEAR Fund sponsored children and micro-enterprise clients, and a series of destructive earthquakes in Sumatra, again making thousands homeless and injuring many

Samoa
In each disaster TEAR Fund is responding. “In Samoa we are working through local village churches providing shelter, emergency supplies and pastoral support. We are also supporting our partner Medical Assistance Programmes International (MAP) who is rushing urgent medical resources.” TEAR Fund is committed to the long term response and community development well beyond the initial emergency, he said.

The Philippines
In Manila where thousands of the poorest have been made homeless by storms and flooding TEAR Fund is responding by providing immediate assistance for displaced families including food, water, clothing, relocation and rebuilding of destroyed shelters. TEAR Fund has already sent NZ$30,000 to its partners who are working in various regions of the country hardest hit by typhoon.

“While the super typhoon over the weekend missed the majority of the country, our partner in the Northern Luzon area reported extensive damage from high winds affecting many rural villages and destroying crops used to feed locals and provide incomes.”

Indonesia
TEAR Fund is assessing needs in Sumatra and is poised to respond to the victims of the massive earthquake which has killed more than 1,000 and destroyed buildings, villages, bridges and roads.

If you would like to respond to these critical disasters please donate to TEAR Fund’s general Disaster Relief Fund, www.tearfund.org.nz , or if you prefer, specify Samoa the Philippines or Indonesia. You can also give through donation boxes at the CD and DVD stores around the country.

ENDS

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