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Released 8 March 2010
Alexandria, VA – The Salvation Army in
Chile continues to adapt to
the changing
conditions while expanding its emergency
relief response in both Central and Southern
Chile.
A curfew has been established from 6:00 PM until 12:00 PM the next day in the
Concepción and Talcahuano area in
Southern Chile and cities closest to the
epicenter. The Salvation Army is working with the
Chilean government and Chilean Emergency Service Ministries to support their
efforts to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the 8.8 magnitude
earthquake that hit Chile on Saturday, February
27. Salvation Army
personnel have to have special authorization to travel during the tightly
controlled curfew period. This
authorization and assigning security personnel to Army staff members will allow
safe travel during curfew and much needed distribution of supplies to those in
need.
As the magnitude of devastation continues to escalate,
Salvation Army
officers, soldiers, and volunteers continue to work feverishly to provide
support and comfort to those affected. In Santiago,
several young Salvationist professionals are reaching out and creating
databases to facilitate more efficient registration of clients by social
workers. Additionally, they continue to
strive to make contact with the Christian media in the Santiago metropolitan
region.
On Thursday, March 4, the Christian media will be conducting a
fundraising campaign in 12 locations throughout the city to collect
donations. Funds raised in these
locations are used to keep the media on air. On
Saturday, March 6, at 4:00 AM, up to ten trucks will be utilized to
deliver these donations to Concepcion and surrounding
areas. The trucks are
owned by the media and some are TSA EDS vehicles.
The Salvation Army Corps in Concepcion is recognized for their League of
Mercy ministry. The League of Mercy of the
Hualpencillo Corps has stepped up to meet the needs and challenges caused by
the earthquake and tsunami and are fully engaged in emergency response
activities. Major Juan Carlos Alarcón ,
Divisional Commander of the Chile Southern Division, has arrived in
Hualpencillo from Temuco. Major
Alarcón had been given moving orders
recently and was to have transferred this week; however, his leaving has been
postponed.
As the Chilean Salvation Army works on the transition of
officers and
appointments, the Chilean government is also in transition. On March 12, the new governor of the country
will be inaugurated. While many believed
that the central region of Chile was not affected, many buildings in
Santiago are
now being condemned because of damage from the earthquake. The strong aftershocks which have reached up
to 6.3 on the Richter scale have impacted the infrastructure of many buildings
to the point where at least two to three 18 – 25 story apartment
complexes in Santiago have had to turn
their residents away and evacuate a five block radius so the buildings can be
imploded in the near future. Many
families have been displaced, and all socioeconomic levels are being affected
by this disaster.
Salvation Army facilities have been severely damaged in both
Central and
Southern Chile. In the
Central Division alone, the
assessments were completed on Wednesday and damages are estimated at over
$500,000. In South
Chile, it is too early to have estimates in dollar figures
although it is known some structures are now uninhabitable. A Boys home, serving 35 children operates in
the coastal town of Llolleo.
The administration, dining and kitchen areas are heavily damaged. This is a structure that has withstood over
60 years of natural disasters. Aftershocks
continue to inflict damage on the complex.
In El Faro, The Salvation Army has had to completely halt all
services
for fear of infrastructure collapse. This complex provided
housing to college students whose hometowns are
far from this community so they reside at The Salvation
Army.
Lt. Colonel F. Bradford Bailey, Chief Secretary of The
Salvation Army
South America West explains that this has been a very deceiving
earthquake. It initially did not show
signs of catastrophic proportions, but seems to be breaking down the
infrastructure from the inside out. Lt.
Colonel Bailey also notes “this
earthquake has not only caused physical damage but is has caused damage to the
psyche and social conditions of Chile. It has
brought out the best and the worst of
Chileans. Many are very disappointed in their
countrymen (i.e. looting, vandals),
while others have stepped up to help and provide strength that is
immeasurable.”
He went on to say that “this is
where The Salvation Army has an opportunity to step up to offer a ministry of
presence, and many church members are finding a chance to share their
relationship with God. This combined
catastrophe will continue to not only affect the pocketbooks of the Government
and its citizens, but also the soul of the
Chileans”.
Santiago Metropolitan
region:
- The Salvation Army is now
providing an average of 3,000 meals a day. These
numbers continue to grow, and
three meals a day are served. Water, first aid
supplies, blankets, candles and other emergency
supplies are to be distributed as needed.
Southern
Chile:
- Many towns are no longer
in place, totally destroyed by the tsunami. Some of
these towns include Tomė,
Dichato, Constitucion, Talca,
and others.
- Much of the south is
without water, electricity and other utilities making cooking and heating
almost impossible.
- Concepcion:
-
- Corps Officers, soldiers,
and volunteers continue to provide emergency services to displaced
residents.
-
- The Hualpencillo Corps
continues to serve as a headquarters for food
distribution.
- As of Wednesday, March 3,
they now have three emergency disaster crews carrying provisions to
outlying
areas.
- Additional teams are
being deployed from Santiago.
- The Corps Sgt. Major in
this city lost her home to the tsunami, but is camped out in a tent at
the courtyard of the property to help take care of people who are less
fortunate and in greater need than she is at this
time.
-
- The Salvation Army has
asked Chilean Emergency Disaster Ministries to open up a fourth front to
provide emergency services. The
Salvation Army has offered to handle emergency distribution to this
community.
Communication continues to be very difficult although it is
becoming a
little better. Lt. Colonel Bailey
expresses sincere gratitude to International Headquarters for its financial
support as well as the dedication and service of our officers, soldiers, and
volunteers.
Additional information will be reported as it becomes
available.
The Salvation Army set up a Chile relief fund
and is accepting monetary donations. Donors may contribute $10 by
text messaging the word “CHILE” to
52000, and confirming the
donation with the word, “Yes.” Donors
can also give via www.salvationarmyusa.org,
1-800-SAL-ARMY and through the mail at: The Salvation Army World Service
Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, and PO Box 630728, Baltimore,
MD 21263-0728 with designation
“Chile Earthquake.”
Please
pray for the people of Chile.
About The Salvation
Army
The
Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the universal Christian church
established in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without
discrimination for 130 years in the United States. Nearly 30 million
Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the
broadest array of social services that range from providing food for the
hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to
the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for
underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar spent is used to carry out
those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. For more information, go to www.salvationarmyusa.org.