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Released 5 March 2010
International
Headquarters, London, England: The Salvation Army in southern Chile is
combining its resources and using
careful planning to help people affected by the earthquake and tsunami that
caused devastation to much of the country, particularly in and around the city
of Concepcion.
The emergency disaster headquarters for the southern region has
been established at the Salvation Army corps (church) in Hualpencillo, which is
located between Concepcion and the coast. The corps has a
kitchen where meals can be prepared. There are
tents set up at the corps, some occupied by Salvation Army soldiers (members)
from Hualpencillo whose homes were washed away by the tsunami caused by the
earthquake.
An emergency disaster team arrived on Monday 1 March from
Valdivia with
goods and
resources that could be distributed in the most affected areas. Vans and other
Salvation Army emergency vehicles are delivering meals and other essentials.
Local Salvationists are being supported by an emergency disaster services team
of officers and soldiers from Osorno, 250 kilometers south of
Hualpencillo.
More than five years ago Major Juan
Gutierrez, then corps officer (Salvation Army minister) at Hualpencillo, dug a
well with which to water the lawns and gardens around the Salvation Army
property. He never used it but God has honoured his plans by making the well an
important component of The Salvation Army's response to the
earthquake.
The current corps officer, Major
Abraham Marin, installed a pump on Wednesday (3 March) and, using a generator
supplied by Major Roberto Moya, corps officer at Osorno, there is now a source
of clean water which can be used by the people being helped by The Salvation
Army in Hualpencillo.
Major Juan Carlos Alarcon,
Divisional Commander of The Salvation Army's Chile South Division, says: 'I
spoke with Major Gutierrez by telephone to advise him that members of his
family who live in the [earthquake] zone are safe. At the same time, I thanked
him for drilling the well, which is now helping hundreds of families. In
Hualpencillo, we are not only providing food, but fresh spring water as
well.'
On Tuesday the corps officers from
Concepcion and Hualpencillo, Majors Carlos and Elizabeth Aguilar and Majors
Abraham and Norma Marin, met with corps members to decide the type of help they
should give to people affected by the earthquake. Representatives from the
regional government, army, navy and other religious and non-government
organizations
(NGOs) attended the meeting.
The two corps have been officially
recognized and lines of communication have been established to help provide
immediate assistance and support during the eventual
reconstruction.
The Chilean capital, Santiago, was not
affected as badly as the southern cities but the earthquake still caused damage
there. In the Brazil neighborhood, 1,500-2,000
people are being served with food every day. Hot
meals and substantial breakfasts are now being offered, along with supplies of
water, first aid essentials, blankets and candles.
Major Nancy Alarcon, officially on
sick leave while recovering from surgery, has taken charge of the many missing
persons enquiries arriving at The Salvation Army's Chile South Divisional
Headquarters through the Internet, by telephone, in letters and on handwritten
notes. On Wednesday Nancy and her team were able to respond to Europe regarding a person who was found to be safe in a
rural village. This means of assistance will continue to be
expanded.
'Let's Help Hualpen' is the slogan
that Captain Marcos Gutierrez, corps officer in Ancud on the island of Chiloe in southern Chile,
is promoting in his area on radio and television. He has received 60 bags of
merchandise, clothing, 200 liters of water, 50 boxes of milk, pasta, rice,
sacks of potatoes, disposable adult diapers, crockery, blankets, bedspreads and
sheets – all donated by the neighbors around the
corps.
A municipal truck has been put at
his disposal to take the items from Ancud to Hualpencillo, and he will be
accompanied on the journey by a local radio personality and reporter from
Ancud.
Major Juan Carlos Alarcon
concludes: 'We are glad to report that our officers have freedom of movement
during the curfews. Caravans are being coordinated to bring supplies in safely.
We are part of the group of recognized agencies for the administration of
assistance from the Government in the assigned zones.'
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.
To donate,
please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, text the word “chile” to 52000 to make
a one-time
$10 donation billed to your cell phone account, or go to www.salvationarmyusa.org<
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