Grants support disaster relief in Asia, Central America, Nigeria.

A number of grants have been given recently for disaster relief in several areas around the world. The grants have come from the Church of the Brethren's Emergency Disaster Fund.

An allocation of $30,000 responds to a Church World Service (CWS) appeal following major flooding and mudslides in Pakistan. It is estimated that up to 500,000 people have been affected, with 40 deaths and 50 reported missing.

A grant of $10,000 assists partner agency Proyecto Aldea Global in responding to massive mudslides in Honduras. The grant will support the reopening of roads and help provide food, water, and medical assistance, as well as health kits and crop assistance.

A grant of $10,000 responds to a CWS appeal for the growing humanitarian crisis of displaced Afghans. Those displaced experience multiple problems including lack of food and water, sanitation, health care, and violence.

An allocation of $4,000 has been given for the work of Children's Disaster Services responding to multiple wildfires in southern California. Children's Disaster Services is a ministry of the Church of the Brethren.

A grant of $5,000 supports the work of the Emergency Preparedness-Response Team (EPRT) in Jos, Nigeria, following sectarian violence (see the Newsline reports of Dec. 3 and Dec. 5). EPRT is a network of 10 inter-religious and inter-agency groups that came together after the 2001 crises in Jos. Member organizations include Mennonite Central Committee, Justice Development Peace/Caritas of Jos Catholic Diocese, the National Council of Muslim Youth Organizations, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, and the state and national Emergency Management Authorities, among others.

In a recent report from EPRT, staff Mark and Brenda Hartman-Souder and Matthew Tangbuin of Mennonite Central Committee Nigeria said that the situation in Jos remains calm. The organization has registered more than 28,000 internally displaced people who have lost their homes and have been staying in camps or with relatives and friends. "Let's continue to pray for all the people of Jos and Plateau State who are suffering in one way or the other because of this crisis," said the report. "Food is scarce and expensive and people continue to live in fear and suspicion."

Source: 12/17/2008 Newsline