13 January 2010
Appeal launched to help thousands struck by devastating Haiti earthquake
The Methodist Church in Britain has launched an emergency appeal
and granted £20,000 in immediate aid to Haiti after a catastrophic
earthquake rocked the Caribbean nation yesterday.
Reports revealed that the 7.0-magnitude quake, the worst to hit the
country in two centuries, tore down the HQ of the UN Mission, the
presidential palace and thousands of homes in the space of a minute
at 16.53 Haitian time and 21.53 GMT. Survivors used the
micro-blogging site Twitter to report on the unfolding
tragedy.
Revd Marcus Torchon, a Haitian Methodist minister serving in the
Liverpool District on an exchange programme, said: "I am still
waiting for news from family members who are missing. I managed to
speak to my nephew after the quake happened, but since that phone
call there were more than 10 after-shocks. Now the line is dead
because the major phone networks are down.
"It is really destabilising emotionally. Practically, I would like
to be of service to them. I feel that at some point I may have to
go there when the airport is open. At the end of the day, we have
nothing but our faith in God."
Revd Tom Quenet, Partnership Coordinator for the Americas and
Caribbean, established contact with the President of the Methodist
Church in the Caribbean and the Americas at 3am GMT today. Tom
said: "Following the damage caused by four successive hurricanes
that hit the island in 2008, I fear that the people of Haiti will
wake up to scenes of devastation, fear and loss of life."
Haiti's Methodist church is the largest membership district of the
Methodist Church in the Caribbean & the Americas with 12,000
members.
Tom Osbeck from aviation ministry Air Calvary said: "The buildings,
homes, businesses and hospitals of Port-au-Prince are flattened. We
stand outside and weep as we hear thousands of crying people.
Thousands have died - many, many around our house."
David Carwell of Mission Aviation Fellowship said: "All kinds of
things in our house shook and slid and came tumbling to the floor.
There have been many aftershocks and tremors. They seem to be
weakening, but I doubt if it's over yet."
The Methodist Church in Britain is appealing to people to make
their response through the World Mission Fund while international
relief agencies and governments work to bring relief to
Haitians.
Donations can be made through the Just Giving webpage
here: or by sending a cheque payable to the World
Mission Fund and posting it to Dave Bennett, Fundraising
Coordinator, at Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London,
NW1 5JR. Postal donations should be labelled 'Haiti Appeal'.
Further information from Revd Tom Quenet or Carole Richmond,
Methodist Church House, 25 Marylebone Road, London NW1 5JR. Tel:
0207 486 5502
A special prayer for the people of Haiti is available online here:
www.methodist.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=opentogod.content&cmid=2890.