HAITI UPDATE
UMCOR has begun implementation of a five-year work plan that contemplates three phases of assistance to Haiti: emergency, recovery and rehabilitation.
This week’s highlights include:
Anthony Jones, Emergency Consultant in Haiti, is working with the UN through cluster meetings to organize UMCOR activities in relation to other organizations in Haiti.
To subsidize the Methodist Guest House in Haiti until volunteers can begin staying there, UMCOR is providing two months salary to the guest house staff.
UMCOR is working with Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI) to provide immediate infrastructure improvements, including water and sanitation, to meet the needs of displaced rural families in Mizak.
Staff Recruitment:
--Hiring and sending key staff for the office in Haiti--Livelihoods Coordinator (Haiti) position is posted--Haiti Desk Officer (NY) position is posted
In the spirit of collaboration, representatives from UMCOR and GBGM Mission Volunteers met with Volunteers in Mission (VIM) Jurisdictional Coordinators in Florida on Wednesday who were preparing to travel to Haiti. The VIM coordinators are representing United Methodist volunteers and UMCOR, working with the Methodist Church of Haiti to assess and prioritize the future work of volunteers. The team discussed the challenges of transportation and housing for volunteers as well as the enormity of work.
With recent reports indicating that 75 percent of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, will need to be rebuilt; volunteers soon will be needed to go to Haiti. Volunteer teams are beginning to mobilize by filling out the registration form.
The team in Haiti has identified a need for layette kits and birthing kits to address the basic needs of babies born in displaced persons camps in Haiti. Volunteers have been preparing kits to send to Haiti.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online by clicking on any of the "Give Now" links.
UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
