When a disaster strikes outside the United States, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) serves as the primary channel for United Methodist assistance. In the short term, UMCOR provides funds to partners to distribute food, hygiene supplies, shelter, and other basic supplies. In the long term, the agency works with local partners toward recovery and reconstruction.
Your gifts on UMCOR Sunday helps support the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere.
Roland Fernandes, the general secretary of Global Ministries and UMCOR, has had long experience with UMCOR’s international disaster grants and programs. “UMCOR has a wide reach internationally because we have a large network of trusted partners experienced in humanitarian relief that we can confidently support,” he said. “Many are United Methodist-related, but others are ecumenical in nature, and a few are non-religious nonprofit humanitarian agencies. So even in places such as China or Afghanistan, we work with partners who can safely reach the affected populations.”
Since January 2020, UMCOR IDR has awarded 22 grants involving significant COVID programming, through 17 partners in 12 countries. Most often these responses address the economic consequences of COVID-19 lockdowns, but this programming also includes support for public health education, medical supplies, and educational materials.
On August 14, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, more powerful than the quake that devastated Port-au-Prince in 2010. Just a few days later, Haiti was also struck by Tropical Storm Grace, which triggered flooding, further slowing relief efforts. It is estimated that 40% of Haiti’s total population needs humanitarian assistance.
Mexico and Indonesia have also experienced deadly earthquakes and UMCOR grants provided vulnerable households with clean water, hygiene kits, food, and supplies for shelter.
In response to unrest and uncertainty in Afghanistan, UMCOR is working with long-standing partners to provide humanitarian relief and is assisting with refugee resettlement through Church World Service, one of nine resettlement agencies approved by the U.S. Department of State.
Violent clashes in Israel and Palestine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Myanmar this year have led to deaths, injuries, and economic crises. UMCOR awarded grants to regional partners to provide critical relief for hundreds of families.
Rising waters around the world have led to more severe flooding, in both new and flood-prone areas. Disaster management offices in annual conferences in Africa and the Philippines, which UMCOR helped develop, received financial assistance to provide humanitarian relief.
Storms in Henan province in China, too, caused widespread flooding. Connection with a long-standing humanitarian partner in China allowed UMCOR to participate in relief and recovery efforts.
In Central America, UMCOR is supporting eight projects in five countries following the destruction from hurricanes Iota, Eta, Amanda, and Cristobal in 2020. Mexico was in the path of Hurricane Grace, which made landfall in Tecolutla in August. UMCOR partnered with the Methodist Church of Mexico’s Septentrional Annual Conference to support immediate relief.
This year, 68 volcanoes have erupted around the world. UMCOR provided grants for partners working in three areas following volcanic eruption: East Congo, St. Vincent Island and Indonesia.
Regardless of the disaster, your gifts and UMCOR’s network of partners around the world ensure outreach to those in need when they need it most.
excerpt from a story by Christie R. House, consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, UMCOR Sunday calls United Methodists to share the goodness of life with those who hurt. Your gifts to UMCOR Sunday lay the foundation for the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) to share God’s love with communities everywhere. The special offering underwrites UMCOR’s “costs of doing business.” This helps UMCOR to keep the promise that 100 percent of any gift to a specific UMCOR project will go toward that project, not administrative costs.
When you give generously on UMCOR Sunday, you make a difference in the lives of people who hurt. Give now.
