December 30, 2004

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. - In the aftermath of massive earthquakes and tsunamis (tidal waves) that have killed over 114,000 people and caused enormous destruction across a dozen countries in and around the Indian Ocean, International Ministries and its partners are undertaking initial response efforts.

Through One Great Hour of Sharing, $20,000 in undesignated contributions has already been sent to support the relief efforts of Church World Service, Baptist World Aid and partners in India and Thailand.

"The magnitude of this disaster is difficult to comprehend," said World Relief Officer Lisa Rothenberger of International Ministries' staff. "We are just learning of the staggering needs and formulating the best possible response at this time," Rothenberger said. "The post-crisis phase of such an enormous disaster will last months, if not years, and require extraordinary financial resources." Rothenberger encouraged all American Baptists to give sacrificially now and throughout the coming year in order to help alleviate the suffering. She said additional relief contributions can be made through the One Great Hour of Sharing offering and noted on local American Baptist churches' "Monthly Report of Mission Giving" marked "OGHS - Asian Tsunami Tragedy."

In Thailand, American Baptist missionaries Jeff and Annie Dieselberg said nearly 1,000 deaths and more than 7,000 injuries had already been reported in the southwestern coastal villages and island resorts of Thailand. Jeff Dieselberg, director of the Urban Transformation Center in Bangkok, said thousands of persons have been transported to that city for medical attention. The Dieselbergs are helping to coordinate initial relief efforts in Thailand, working with the Church of Christ of Thailand and the Thailand Baptist Missionary Fellowship.

Baptist World Aid allocated an initial $25,000 for relief work in the affected countries. Of that amount, $5,000 in immediate aid was given to cover expenses of a medical relief team from Hungarian Baptist Aid. The team arrived in Sri Lanka Dec. 27 and will assist victims in the most devastated areas with medicines and medical supplies donated from Hungary.

Church World Service (CWS) already has shipped over $750,000 in material supplies, including health and shelter kits and emergency medicine boxes, to affected areas. CWS will be undertaking a regional response to the catastrophe, focusing support in the three hardest hit areas, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and India.

American Baptist News Service