World Launches Unprecedented Feeding Program
As the UN launched an unprecedented operation to feed 2 million survivors of the earthquake-tsunami disaster for six months, Christian groups reminded the faithful that government-led operations will not be enough
As the United Nations launched an unprecedented operation to feed 2 million survivors of the earthquake-tsunami disaster for six months, Christian relief organizations reminded the faithful that government-led and political operations will not be enough to fill the needs of the 5 million vulnerable disease and hunger in Asia.
According to the World Food Program, which is coordinating the 2-million food effort, the operation will likely cost US $180 million over a period of 6 months. The focus will be placed on nursing mothers, pregnant women and young children.
"Like most tough problems around the world the consequences disproportionately fall on children," said the WFP Executive Director James Morris, to the Associated Press on Saturday. "There are a lot of kids that are going to need a lot of help coming out of this.
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"You cannot sacrifice the nutritional needs of a child early in life and hope the child will ever catch up, so we're very focused on therapeutic and supplemental nutritional programs for kids," Morris explained.
Meanwhile, Christian denominations and organizations launched relief initiatives unmatched in their decades of service. Lutheran World Relief, a joint operation by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, began a $5 million offering drive last week; the United Methodist Church set aside $750,000 for through its United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR); the Southern Baptist Convention alone collected $1.4 million specifically for the Asia tsunami purpose; Church World Service, a joint operation by dozens of denominations, set a $5 million long term relief goal; and World Vision distributed over $1 million in supplies to the afflicted nations.
According to Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR’s executive secretary for U.S. disaster response, the role of Christian groups are crucial for the long-term commitment to tsunami victims, since the funds pledged by government will not be enough.
"We’re there for the long haul, and we’ll be working not only to bring these relief supplies, but doing the development work and the long-term recovery. Our hope is to work through our partners there, and the goal has already been set to rebuild at least 10,000 homes,” explained Hazelwood.
At last count, the Dec. 26 disaster killed more than 104,000 people in Indonesia alone, and over 150,000 in total.
