We share Rev. Gualberto’s excitement – “Praise the Lord!  This is indeed good news. Glory to God! Thank you also to PHILRADS / the Philippines Council for Evangelical Churches (PCEC), to Baby Amor and Bishop Ef for their partnership and hard work.”

Pray for the Nazarene Disaster Response teams as they prepare to distribute the relief materials, and for those who will benefit from this aid.

We praise God for His intervention in the granting of an extension for completion of customs clearance of a disaster relief materials shipment, recently landed in Cagayan de Oro. Such an extension is unheard of and highlights the reality of God’s working in this matter, for His glory.

Continue to pray that the shipment will be cleared promptly enabling our disaster teams to distribute the relief materials from our resource partners, Compassionate Resource Warehouse (NCM Canada), to those in need. We’re also thankful for our partnership with the PHILRADS (Phiiippines Relief and Development Services) and their assistance in facilitating this process.

Pray also for the Church’s continued re-building efforts. A “One Heart, Many Hands” (Philippines) reconstruction project will commence next month, focusing on rebuilding of flood victims homes.

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Rev. Stephen Gualberto, Field Strategy Co-ordinator, has confirmed the Church has initiated a disaster response in the Cebu and Negros provinces, after a quake registering 6.9 hit the area, late on Monday morning.
The death toll is estimated at almost 50, with more than 90 missing. Many of those not yet located are believed to have been caught in one of the many landslides caused by the quake.
An initial assessment has been conducted and determined that it is appropriate and opportune for the Church to respond at this time.
The field will again call on the assistance of its local and international partners in responding to the need for food, water, temporary shelter, relief and medical teams.

The local church and Nazarene Disaster Response (NDR) team is liaising with local authorities, including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), to identify areas of need or gaps in support.
The NDR team will also request the NDRRMC’s assistance regarding arrangements for military support to airlift relief and medical teams, as well as relief items.

Gualberto says, “We do not have a church presence in this area at this time, but this is an opportunity to be a practical expression of Christ’s love and compassion.” He will travel to review the situation and connect with the local response team in the next 48hrs.
We appreciate your prayer for our brothers and sisters as they respond to this need and for those affected by this situation. The immediate needs are food, water, temporary shelter and medical teams.

- NCM Asia Pacific

District Superintendent of the Central Visayas District, Nilo Resende, reports there have been no casualties among Nazarenes in Cebu City from Monday’s quake. An assessment was conducted in the Negros Oriental areas yesterday by NCM’s Dan Balayo. An update will be provided by NCM Philippines.

The Cebu City area of the Philippines experienced a magnitude-6.9 earthquake on Monday. Aftershocks and tsunami rumors have led to further chaos in the area.

Dan Balayo, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Asia-Pacific’s Holistic Child Development coordinator, said a strong tremor was felt at his office on the campus of Visayas Nazarene Bible College campus in Cebu.

Philippines Field Strategy Coordinator Stephen Gualberto spoke with the Panay District superintendent, who said there was some damage sustained in his area.

Reports from global news outlets vary, saying between 22 and 48 people were killed and as many as 92 are still missing.

“We have no water and power because electric posts were toppled,” Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes told The Associated Press by phone. “Many of our roads were damaged, including bridges, and stores are closed. We’re isolated.”

Following tsunami rumors, the Philippine Star reported cars were abandoned in the middle of roads; stores were left open and people headed to the mountains. Some found their way to the tops of high-rise buildings.

At least eight aftershocks, ranging from magnitude-4.6 to -6.0, rattled the area into Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

“No contact has been made as yet with our leadership in the Central Visayas and Negros Districts,” said David Harris, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Asia-Pacific coordinator.

Further information will be posted as it is received from the Asia-Pacific Region.
–Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Asia-Pacific

A team has been organised to advocate for the protection of children, specifically, from the affects of radiation, with a petition being circulated, to lobby the Japanese government’s action in development of rehabilitation and prevention programs.

It is hoped that a Nazarene who has been involved in ministry to children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster will be able to assist in the development of strategies to support children at risk of harm as a result of the radiation fall-out from Fukushima.

Missionary to Saipan, Dave Bucher, extended an invitation to victims of the east Japan quake/tsunami, for emergency accommodation immediately after the disaster. In further discussion with Bucher, the east Japan disaster team are proposing a children’s retreat, in Saipan. It is thought that a period of isolation from the contaminated area may reduce or eliminate, some of the adverse affects of radiation. Mrs Mika Shinozawa, a qualified psychologist, and wife of disaster team member, Rev. Shunichiro Shinozawa, will assist in providing therapeutic support for the children participating in the ‘detox’/respite program. Members of the Nazarene Disaster Response team visited Saipan recently to meet with church and government leaders to discuss the proposal.

There is also the need for increased awareness of the potential of abuse (sexual, or other) and relevant training, particularly for increased involvement of volunteers, local and international, in working with children. Disaster situations increase the risk factors for children, becoming particularly vulnerable not only to environmental factors, but also to those who would take advantage of the less secure circumstances many find themselves in.

Approximately 13 teams in total have been actively involved in cleaning up homes and yards, support to evacuees in temporary housing, participation in and co-ordination of community concerts/festivals, visiting and support in elementary schools, distribution of relief materials, including food, clothing and blankets. Subsequently, a high degree of trust has been developed between the church and local communities.

There are around 21 organisations involved in the relief and rehabilitation operations in Higashi-Matsushima.