Covenant News

Covenant World Relief Responds to Iran Earthquake

CHICAGO, IL (December 29, 2003) - Covenant World Relief (CWR) is responding to the devastating earthquake in Iran by sending disaster relief funds and asking Covenanters to consider donating to a special fund for Iran earthquake relief. More than 25,000 people were killed when an earthquake hit the city of Bam, Iran, with some local officials reporting fears that the death toll could reach 40,000.

Jim Sundholm, CWR director, said that CWR will partner with Church World Service, an ecumenical relief agency, to provide assistance in Iran. According to a press release on the agency's website, Church World Services planning emergency airlifts of blankets, tents, hygiene and medical supplies for those left homeless by the earthquake.

Iran has a history of deadly earthquakes - according to the BBC, more than 62,000 have been killed in earthquakes in that nation since 1990.

"Unfortunately, devastating earthquakes are a regular occurrence in Iran," one Iranian Christian leader told a representative of World Relief, the humanitarian arm of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) "It is also extremely sad that the world will soon forget the victims." (Sundholm is also a member of the Board of Directors of World Relief.)

Contributions for Iran relief can be send to Covenant World Relief, earmarked for Iran Earthquake Relief, and sent to 5101 N. Francisco Ave., Chicago, IL 60625.

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