HOTLINE - week of February 11, 2008

On Feb. 5 and 6, a rash of tornadoes swept across the south-central U.S., damaging and destroying homes, businesses, and public facilities in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and Indiana. At least 57 people were killed.

"Given the intense damage caused by this storm, CWS anticipates working actively in states where tornadoes and flooding have struck," says Bonnie Vollmering, CWS Associate Director for Domestic Emergency Response. "The disaster is still in its rescue and relief phase, and needs are beginning to come to light."

In an initial response to the emergency, Church World Service provided 200 CWS Blankets, 1,035 CWS Hygiene Kits, and 200 Emergency Clean-up Buckets for storm-affected families in Mt. View, Arkansas, and 200 CWS Blankets and 585 CWS Hygiene Kits for families in Clinton, Arkansas.

CWS Emergency Response Specialists are in contact with denominational and disaster response partners, and Church World Service anticipates providing additional material resources to fulfill partner-identified needs. CWS also expects to deploy staff to assist in training and project development, and issue emergency response grants to long-term recovery groups in the affected areas.

At least 80,000 people have been displaced by flooding in central and southern Mozambique. Torrential rains have swollen three major rivers and many smaller connecting rivers.

Church World Service is supporting partner efforts to assist some 55,460 people (about 10,575 families) who are part of densely populated rural farming and fishing communities in river basins and islands. Partners are providing water and/or water purification materials, constructing latrines for people in areas where they have relocated, and providing supplies such as jerry cans, mosquito nets, soap, plastic sheeting, and blankets. As families return to agricultural areas, they will also receive seed kits and tools.

Since Jan. 10, at least 240,000 people have had to leave their homes in central, eastern, and southwestern China due to heavy snowfalls and icy rain—the worst the area has seen in 50 years. Some 17 provinces and municipalities have been affected. Church World Service partner the Amity Foundation reports that some 149,000 homes have collapsed and another 602,000 have been damaged. Some 16 million acres of crops have been damaged.

Church World Service is supporting the efforts of the Amity Foundation in assisting 5,000 families in Hubei, Anhui, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces.

The response includes providing 33 pounds of rice per person for 5,000 people; one quilt per family for 5,000 families; and two sheep each for 400 families; and help in rebuilding two drinking water systems, 400 houses, 400 animal pens, and three school buildings, along with clinics and hospitals.

Some 170 rural families in six vulnerable communities in the municipality of Mateare are improving their food security by using sustainable practices that will not harm the already threatened natural resources of the region, thanks in part to Church World Service.

Through Church World Service partner the Center of Inter-Ecclesial Theological and Social Studies, the families are learning how to use more efficient food production methods so they can put food on the table year-round.

Families are learning about planting order and crop diversification methods; constructing rain collection, distribution, and storage systems to help irrigate their crops and provide safe water for home use; improving health conditions in their homes; conserving local forests by building more fuel-efficient stoves; and exchanging knowledge with families in other communities.

Your prayers and support - and your participation in CROP WALKS and the TOOLS & BLANKETS Program - make possible these and other life sustaining programs. For information on how to get involved, please call your Church World Service/CROP Regional Office toll-free at 1-888-CWS-CROP, that's 1-888-297-2767.

For information about free loan videos, please call 1-800-297-1516, ext. 338, or e-mail us at: videos@churchworldservice.org.

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