Previous Humanitarian Emergency Appeals (before 2015)

SUMMARY OF PREVIOUS HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY APPEALS

2015

MYANMAR FLOOD EMERGENCY APPEAL

In early August, Myanmar was hit by one of the worst floods in living memory. The situation was caused by heavy monsoon rains followed by Cyclone Komen which hit the affected regions. Twelve out of its fourteen states were declared disaster zones. Over 100 people died and up to 1 million people affected.

ABM is working with the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) who coordinated their Relief Committee with the relief response and ongoing rehabilitation program.

Click on this link for previous updates.

View photographs of the floods and the ongoing relief work of CPM and others. 

 

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE EMERGENCY APPEAL

On Saturday 25th April, Nepal suffered one of the worst earthquakes to hit a populated area in living memory. To put this in perspective, the Christchurch earthquake in New Zealand in 2011 was a 6.2 magnitude. The Nepal earthquake killed over 8,000 people, destroyed countless homes and buildings and left many people sleeping on the streets in freezing temperatures.

ABM has so far contributed $188,260 in response to the devastating earthquakes in Nepal. As ABM does not have an existing in-country partner in the region, these funds were directed through ACT Alliance, to specifically support the relief work of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Read more.

 

VANUATU CYCLONE EMERGENCY APPEAL

Cyclone Pam, which hit Vanuatu in mid March, led to a State of Emergency being declared across 65 islands with a total population of 267,000.

In response, ABM launched an appeal to raise $100,000 to provide much needed emergency relief for the many people who were displaced. We continue to support the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM) with their relief and recovery efforts in the most affected communities.

Read previous accounts of the relief effort: Six Months on – the Recovery in Vanuatu and Update on Cyclone Pam Relief Activities. Also staff member Jessica Sexton’s story of her own experience of the cyclone while on a monitoring trip in Vanuatu: Experiencing Cyclone Pam.  

 

SOUTH SUDAN CONFLICT EMERGENCY APPEAL

ABM launched the South Sudan Conflict Emergency Appeal in January 2014 in support of the relief work of our partner, the Episcopal Church of South Sudan and Sudan (ECSS&S).

$50,000 was raised initially to provide for emergency relief aid. ABM aimed to send another $50,000 to ECSS&S to assist their ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts in South Sudan.

The main aim of the relief phase was to distribute much needed food supplies to internally displaced persons. This phase included assessing the people’s needs, training church workers to procure and distribute food as well as keep accurate records. The next phase includes a strong focus on the peace-building process and reconciliation work.

 

2014

GAZA EMERGENCY APPEAL

ABM has a long relationship with the Anglican Church in the Holy Land, dating back to 1918. ABM has been supporting the Al-Ahli Arab hospital in Gaza for a number of years and provided emergency funding during the 2009 Israel-Gaza Conflict.

With the current conflict which erupted in July 2014, ABM responded immediately by sending the hospital $5,000 from its Global Rapid Response Fund.

The staff at Al Ahli Hospital have used emergency relief donations to extend free outreach services of the hospital to the many displaced people. They also focus on psychological support, running activities such as ‘Joyful Days’ for children, and counselling sessions for adults. Hygiene kits are distributed regularly to families as well, increasing sanitation and thus mitigating the spread of disease.

ABM had a fundraising target of $25,000. However, $69,534 has been raised to date. This entire amount has been sent to Al Ahli Hospital for these relief activities.

31/07/2015 Read an update on the Al Ahli Hospital one year after the war and how funding from our generous supporters has helped those in need – Gaza: Al Ahli Hospital One Year on From Conflict. 

 

SOLOMON ISLANDS FLOOD RESPONSE

ABM launched the Solomon Islands Flood Response in April 2014 to provide emergency relief to the many displaced families and individuals affected by the devastating floods that ravaged parts of Honiara and Guadalcanal.

Our partner in the Solomon Islands, the Anglican Church of Melanesia (ACOM), was able to respond immediately and effectively in supplying emergency relief aid. The Trauma Healing and Counselling Team played a vital role in providing counselling for the flood victims, and ACOM continues to focus on the rehabilitation of communities. $38,435 was raised during this appeal.

 

2013

SOLOMON ISLANDS TSUNAMI APPEAL

An 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands on 6th February 2013. The resulting tsunami left many people homeless in the province of Temotu, Santa Cruz Islands.

ABM’s partner, the Anglican Church of Melanesia, asked for emergency relief for these people, many of whom were Anglicans and lived along the coastal villages of the islands. Donations went towards providing basic supplies of clean drinking water, food, tents and clothing.

ABM contributed $5,000 from the Global Rapid Response fund for this emergency.

 

ETHIOPIAN FOOD EMERGENCY APPEAL

ABM launched an emergency appeal for thousands of South Sudanese who were displaced by fighting near the border of Ethiopia. Armed clashes between rebels and the South Sudanese military resulted in a flood of people fleeing into the Gambella region of Ethiopia so that the border was closed.

ABM works in partnership with the Anglican Churches in Ethiopia and South Sudan, and Australian Anglican dioceses who have strong connections with Sudanese Anglican Australians.

$10,000 was provided to buy maize, wheat and cooking oil to feed some of the thousands of displaced people, with the Anglican Church there coordinating the distribution of supplies. Of this, $9,231 was raised by ABM supporters of the appeal.

 

TYPHOON YOLANDA (HAIYAN)

Thanks to our generous supporters, ABM was able to raise over $357,977 for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan which struck the Philippines in November 2013.

We continue to work support our Partners, the Episcopal Church in the Philippines and the Philippine Independent Church (Iglesia Filipina Independiente) with the rebuilding of communities devastated by the typhoon, including developmental relief, rehabilitation and livelihood support.

 

2012

PHILIPPINES EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

On 6th February, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off Negros, the third largest island in the Philippines. The quake triggered off a series of landslides, collapsing buildings and houses, and damaging vital infrastructure. ABM appealed for $25,000 needed by the Iglesia Filipina Independiente – Philippine Independent Church (IFI) to provide relief aid to about 1,500 families, mostly women and children in the affected areas of Negros Island. Funds went towards food and water supplies – rice, canned goods, instant noodles, bottled water and coffee.

 

CONGO CONFLICT APPEAL

ABM accepted donations to help with humanitarian aid on behalf of the Anglican Church of Congo and in response to the Anglican Alliance who were highlighting the plight of many internally displaced people in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the civil violence. $10,593 was raised during this appeal.

 

2011

SUDAN CONFLICT APPEAL (ABYEI)

ABM’s partner, the Episcopal Church of Sudan (ECS), asked for assistance in providing relief aid to about 34,000 internally displaced people in Abyei, in the north of Southern Sudan. Most were relocating to their former homelands in the south and experienced violence during their travels, with inadequate shelter, no access to clean water supplies and other basic needs. $133,204 was raised from this appeal.

 

ABM SPECIAL APPEAL FOR JAPAN

On March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck Japan and caused a tsunami with 30 ft waves that killed and injured many, destroyed homes and damaged several nuclear reactors. It is the fourth largest earthquake on record (since 1900) and the largest to hit Japan. Over 15,000 people were killed and more than 3,000 were missing.

ABM accepted donations on behalf of Nippon Sei Ko Kai (NSKK), the Anglican Church in Japan, who provided much needed aid to the many left homeless. The church particularly used the funds to provide trauma counselling to people affected by the tsnunami. A total of $8977 was raised through this appeal.

 

EAST AFRICAN CRISIS APPEAL

ABM worked through our Anglican Church partner in Kenya, raising $280,000 to provide much needed aid to the many people who were affected by severe drought in several countries, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Southern Sudan. The United Nations stated that it was “the worst drought in 60 years” with more than 10 million people affected. The funds not only brought relief in the Ukamba region of Kenya, but also helped improve many communities’ resilience to future droughts.

 

2010

HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL

On 12 January 2010, the Caribbean nation of Haiti was struck by a massive 7.0-magnitude earthquake. Over 200,000 people were killed and an estimate 3 million affected by the disaster. ABM sent donations for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake to the Episcopal Relief and Development Agency (ERD), our fellow Anglican partner in the United States who work in Haiti. Donors generously responded with $229,227 raised for Haiti.

 

CHILE EMERGENCY APPEAL

An earthquake measuring 8.8 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Chile on 27 February 2010. Over 700 people died and an estimated 1.5 million people were affected by the disaster. ABM sent donations to organizations in Chile through the ACT Alliance whose members had established contact with local ACT member FASIC (Fundacion de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas – foundation of social aid of Christian churches) and other local partners.

 

PAKISTAN FLOODS EMERGENCY APPEAL

ABM’s partner, the Anglican Church of Pakistan, asked for emergency assistance in the Diocese of Peshawar where many people were badly affected by the worst floods in Pakistan’s history, with Christians among the poorest and most marginalized people in the province. About 20 million people were affected and 1,600 killed with the flood waters ravaging one fifth of the country. Funds were used to supply aid such as food, clean water, shelter and medicine to those in greatest need, regardless of religion or membership of any group. $154,056 was raised during this appeal.

 

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