* Any views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
NEWS: Relief from Conflict in DR Congo
Armed conflict between government and rebel forces in North Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has caused some 85,000 people to flee their homes and settle in camps and public spaces—churches and schools—in Rutshuru District, placing heavy stress on the local community there.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has provided an emergency grant to the Methodist Church of DR Congo to support its efforts to reduce that stress and also improve short-term access to food for both the displaced and the host communities.
Your gift to Congo Emergency (DRC), UMCOR Advance #198400, supports UMCOR’s relief and development work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
PRAYER: Tornado, Flood Survivors in US
As survivors of a string of violent tornadoes in Oklahoma last month turn toward their long-term recovery, your prayers are asked for them and all who assist them.
Please also remember in your prayers those who are dealing with severe flooding in Illinois, Missouri, and the Dakotas, and with the aftermath of the first named storm, Andrea, of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season.
UMCOR OPENINGS: Water, Sanitation & Hygiene Coordinator, UMCOR Haiti
UMCOR is seekinga qualified professional to oversee the program and technical aspects of its water, sanitation, and hygiene work in Haiti. For a full description of the responsibilities and requirements of the position please visit the Careers page of the UMCOR website.
MEDIA: Relief Kits Needed
Recent emergencies in the United States and overseas are quickly exhausting UMCOR’s supply of relief kits —from cleaning buckets to layette kits, school kits, and more. The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1 and will run through November 30, is forecasted to be particularly active. View a new UMCOR video on the role relief kits play in a crisis, and learn how you can assemble and ship kits to help survivors of disasters from Oklahoma to Syria and beyond. Sending relief kits through the UMCOR Relief Supply Network is an efficient and immediate way to help in the wake of an emergency.
RESOURCE: World Refugee Day is June 20
World Refugee Day, June 20, is coming up fast. Check out www.cwsglobal.org/wrd13 for worship and advocacy resources for your congregation. It's never too early to plan ahead—especially when lives are at stake.
