Aid agencies respond to Iran quake: PWRDF grant of $15,000 already sent.Responding to calls for emergency relief efforts for survivors of the deadly earthquake that ravaged rav·age v. rav·aged, rav·ag·ing, rav·ages v.tr. 1. To bring heavy destruction on; devastate: A tornado ravaged the town. 2. the city of Barn, Iran, the Primate's World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF PWRDF Primate's World Relief and Development Fund ) has released an initial grant of $15,000. The grant was channeled through Action by Churches Together (ACT), a global, ecumenical alliance of churches responding to emergency needs worldwide, of which PWRDF is a member. The Geneva-based ACT co-ordinating office has sent out an initial grant of $50,000 US from its Rapid Response Fund. The funds will be used by ACT members on the ground in Iran, including the Middle East Council of Churches After many years of preliminary moves, the Middle East Council of Churches was inaugurated in May 1974 at its First General Assembly in Nicosia, Cyprus. Initially it contained three "families" of Christian Churches in the Middle East, the Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Oriental and Norwegian Church Aid, for the purchase and distribution of tents, clothing, medicine and other relief items for survivors of the earthquake, which struck the ancient city on Dec. 26. Relief efforts are being co-ordinated with the Iranian Red Crescent Red Crescent n. 1. A branch of the Red Cross organization operating in a Muslim country. 2. The crescent-shaped emblem of such a branch. and the United Nations office for the co-ordination of humanitarian affairs. The global humanitarian group Church World Service has arranged for the airlift of medical supplies to serve 100,000 persons for three months and 5,000 hygiene kits. Episcopal Relief and Development, the relief and development arm of the Episcopal Church Episcopal Church, Anglican church of the United States. Its separate existence as an American ecclesiastical body with its own episcopate began in 1789. Doctrine and Organization in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. , also responded to the call for help. Almost 30,000 people, nearly a third of the population, were reported dead after being buried under homes and buildings made from mud bricks. The situation was critical for tens of thousands of people left homeless at the onset of winter when temperatures drop below freezing. Bam was hit by a tremor measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale Richter scale (rĭk`tər), measure of the magnitude of seismic waves from an earthquake, devised in 1935 by the American seismologist Charles F. Richter (1900–1985). . Two-thirds of the city, whose rapid economic growth has been drawing migrants from across southeast Iran, was flattened. Electricity and water were cut off. Mullahs have had to use dust to cleanse the faces of the dead. More than 1,000 people had been pulled alive from the rubble. PWRDF is accepting donations for earthquake relief response in Iran. Cheques may be sent marked: PWRDF "Iran Earthquake," 600 Jarvis Street, Toronto ON M4Y 2J6. Contact Barbara Wilkins <bwilkins@pwrdf.org> for credit card donations. Phone: (416) 924-9199, ext. 320. |
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