Brethren Service Center ships relief to Iran.

Emergency Response/Service Ministries (ER/SM) staff at the Brethren Service Center in New Windsor, Md., packed and shipped a container-load of medicines, medical supplies, and health kits to survivors of an earthquake in Bam, Iran. The emergency shipment was airlifted to Iran to arrive Friday, Jan. 9.

"Our partners, Interchurch Medical Assistance and Church World Service, have been working with the Service Ministries staff as they prepared this urgent shipment of IMA medical boxes and CWS health kits for the people of Iran," said Roy Winter, executive director of the Brethren Service Center. Winter also serves on IMA's board of directors.

"Whenever there is great tragedy, I always have a moment of profound sadness. While this lingers, I also find myself experiencing a sense of awe at the willingness of people to respond so very quickly to human need," Winter said. "When we work together, it is amazing what is accomplished. These supplies, along with a $35,000 grant from the Church of the Brethren Emergency Disaster Fund, are great examples of the church continuing the work of Jesus in the world."

Bam was leveled Dec. 26 by a 6.6-magnitude earthquake. Unofficial estimates of the death toll are as high as 60,000. In the surrounding area, 200,000 people were affected. CWS anticipates the relief effort in Bam will be at least a five- to seven-year commitment.

Brethren staff gave the shipment a quick turnaround, anticipating the need for extra work over the holidays as they saw reports of the earthquake on the news. Service Ministries staff "are highly motivated," said Kathleen Campanella, coordinator of public information for the center. "They really connect with the work they do making a difference in the world."

"This was an unusual situation; this moved quickly," Campanella said. She explained that often weeks or months go by after a disaster before supplies are shipped. The Brethren staff at the center can be thought of as doing "invisible work," she said. Three employees are responsible for receiving calls for supplies and doing the paperwork, another three coordinate and pack the supplies, and two more load the container. "I saw a sense of satisfaction" after the container left the center, Campanella said. The Brethren "had sent it on its way."

The shipment included 75 IMA Medicine Boxes, 25 IMA/Bristol-Myers Squibb Disaster Medicine Boxes, and 8,000 CWS Health Kits in 160 cartons. Health kits include hygiene supplies needed by an individual in a disaster situation. The medicine box contains basic medicines and medical supplies designed to treat common illnesses for 1,000 adults and children for 2 to 3 months. The disaster box contains primarily antibiotics for treating infections and other ailments associated with impure water and unsanitary conditions. The 100 IMA boxes are valued at $550,000.

Nearly all of the medicine and supplies were donated to IMA and CWS. IMA corporate sponsors are Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, and Merck & Co., Inc. IMA also has 12 Protestant relief and development agency partners, including the Church of the Brethren. CWS' relief effort in Iran is supported by the American Baptist Churches USA, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Episcopal Relief and Development, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Reformed Church of America, and the United Church of Christ, as well as the Church of the Brethren. The Middle East Council of Churches is coordinating the work.

Source: Newsline 1/16/2004
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