LONDON, UK (ANS) -- Thousands of churches in the UK are set to spend this Sunday (January 17, 2009) praying and giving offerings for people affected by the huge earthquake that devastated Haiti this week.

HaitI appeal ad

Actor John Hurt and presenter Kirsty Young have fronted appeals asking for help for the impoverished nation struck by the quake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale on Tuesday. Christians are responding to the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal by taking time within their church services to pray and give money.

The DEC, which was formed in 1963, is an umbrella organization for 13 aid agencies and ensures that funds raised are best placed to deliver effective and timely relief to people most in need.

The president of Haiti says he fears that tens of thousands of people have died but the full extent of the suffering remains unclear.

Oenone Chadburn, Head of Tearfund’s Disaster Management Unit, said today: “My husband is half-Haitian, and we have spent the last few days praying and searching online for news of family and friends. We have lost one person, and we’re grieving that loss. We’re very encouraged that our fellow Christians will be praying and giving to the DEC Appeal this Sunday, as we stand with our brothers and sisters in Haiti at this time.”

Up to three million people live in the area worst hit by the quake centered 10 miles southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince. Many have lost homes and their livelihoods. Essential services have been badly hit.
Clare Dixon, CAFOD head of Latin America and Caribbean, says: "Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Its people are used to civil strife, hurricanes and floods, but earthquakes are not a normal occurrence. With the majority of the population living in abject poverty, this earthquake will greatly increase their suffering."

There are not enough body bags to collect the dead lying in the streets. There are concerns that supplies of drinking water will last only several more days.

Nick Guttmann, head of Christian Aid’s humanitarian division, said today: “The practical needs in tackling this disaster are enormous. The question of access must be speedily addressed to get relief to the worst hit areas.

“It is also crucial to ensure that there are secure areas where supplies can be distributed in a fair manner. The rapid provision of food, water, medical supplies and shelter and blankets is essential.”

Churches and Christian organizations are among those who have already been working in Haiti, which is one of the world’s poorest countries, to bring about sustainable development. Those same churches will be involved in the relief efforts and will be part of the long-term work to build back better.

DEC member agencies, who work directly with churches, including Cafod, Christian Aid, Tearfund and World Vision, have made resources available to churches to help them to pray. Christian Aid have produced a prayer which can be downloaded from www.christianaid.org.uk and Tearfund are offering churches a Powerpoint of images to help them reflect on the scale of the crisis at www.tearfund.org/haitiprayer

To make a donation to the DEC Haiti appeal visit http://www.dec.org.uk or donate over the counter at any post office or high street bank, or send a cheque – see details below.

Anyone wanting to stay up to date with developments in Haiti, the emergency response and the fundraising efforts can follow the DEC on twitter at http://twitter.com/decappeal or become a fan of "Disasters-Emergency-Committee-DEC" on Facebook.

Peter Wooding is a TV, radio and print journalist and media consultant having spent 10 years as news editor with UCB Radio in the UK. He has traveled extensively reporting from countries including Russia, Serbia, Ukraine, Dubai, South Korea, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Croatia, Israel and India. He reports regularly for CBN News, KCBI radio, ASSIST News and Sorted Magazine. Peter and wife Sharon live in North Wales, UK with their three children. Passionate to see God’s Justice and Mercy impact lives, Peter is director of a new UK ministry Mercy Project International (www.mercyproject.org.uk) to help at-risk young people in Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Kosovo, the Middle East and beyond. Contact Peter for consultation at woodingpeter@hotmail.com or tel. +44 1244 549167/+44 7500 903067.