Disaster Relief

DISASTER RELIEF-FGA IPOH
In recent months, there were an unprecedented incidences of disasters caused by earthquakes and tsunamis. All these events lead to untold sufferings and loss of lives amongst the people in these under-developed countries. Prominent amongst these were the loss of 170,000 lives in Indonesia caused by tsunami and 80,000 deaths in North-West Pakistan by an earthquake. Millions are displaced from their homes.
Due to the destruction to houses, schools and hospitals, urgent help is invariably needed.
This is an excellent opportunity for Christians to rally around to do their part. Evangelism efforts are enhanced because the affected victims respond to the love of Christ in these volunteers.
NIAS ISLAND
An earthquake of 8.7 on the Richter scale hit this island, off the western coast of Sumatra, on 28 March 2005. More than 1000 were killed in the capital Gunung Sitoli.
Our local mission body, CREST, partnering with International Christian Missions (ICM, Singapore) sent out a medical team. FGA, Ipoh sent out a doctor with medical supplies.
The church continues this work by sending out funds to support this work.
The medical team managed to see patients in areas of Gido, Kecamatan Tuhembra, Hilmiweto and in the damaged hospital of Gunung Sitoli. Six medical camps were organised.
NORTH-WEST FRONTIER PAKISTAN
On 8 Oct 2005, a 7.6 intensity earthquake rocked 28,000 sq km of this region. The towns of Balakot and Muzaffarabad nearest to the epicentre were flattened. 3.5 million people were displaced.
CREST with Operation Mobilisation (OM) and Christian Community Abbotabad, Pakistan sent out medical aid to this region. A volunteer doctor from FGA Ipoh was sent out. More than 100,000 ringgit were collected from the churches in Ipoh for the Pakistanis for winter needs. Four containers of insulation material were shipped out with the help of a Singaporean shipping line.
VOLUNTEERS TO SPEARHEAD THE GOSPEL
Doctors, nurses, paramedicals or children workers are needed for these short-term missions. CREST needs a larger database of such Christians with these skills.
Requirements
(1) Respond at short notices
(2) Physically fit
(3) Emotionally stable and flexible in all circumstances.
(4) Willing to endure hardships in disaster affected areas because of His work.
Those interested, please contact
Lana Wong, CREST at office@cr.net.my
Dr Yoong, FGA Ipoh at scyoong@tm.net.my