More than 700 people have died and at least 500,000 are without housing as a result of the magnitude 8.8 earthquake and tsunami that struck the South American country of Chile early last Saturday, ravaging a stretch of Chile's Pacific coast.
Though aftershocks are continuing to cause further destruction to the country and hinder recovery efforts, Assemblies of God World Missions/Convoy of Hope teams are working to provide food and clean water to earthquake victims.
"This devastating earthquake, so close in time to the Haiti disaster, has presented special challenges," says Randy Hurst, communications director for AG World Missions. "But our missionaries and Convoy of Hope personnel immediately jumped into action."
Convoy of Hope members Nick Wiersma and David Edson traveled with AG missionaries Mike Files and Steve and Rhonda Wilson in Chile. Missionary Steve Wilson is directing the assessment team, which arrived in Santiago, the nation's capital, on Wednesday.
In the city of Concepción, people are without essential services and are looting supermarkets for food and water. Some coastal villages were completely destroyed. The Chileans have wasted no time when it comes to reconstruction of their cities.
"Food and supplies have been purchased in country, in the city of Tecumo, and the relief team is on its way to Concepción to help those in need," says Kary Kingsland, Convoy of Hope vice president for disaster response. Equipped with Sawyer water filters, the team was able to purchase buckets for use with the filters and is working to provide clean drinking water as soon as possible.
"Traveling in the
country for the relief assessment team has been difficult," Hurst
continues, "but the team is doing everything they can."
While driving through the country, the team has been taking major detours due
to collapsed bridges and poor surface roads. Also, to combat looting, the
Chilean government has issued a countrywide curfew that has severely limited
travel. Chilean citizens and all other individuals are only allowed to be
outside their homes from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Thankfully, the relief team
has been granted a military exemption to this curfew.
Some 20,000 believers attend 746 Assemblies of God churches and preaching points across the nation of Chile. "The relief team will be assessing these churches as quickly as possible," reports Kingsland, "and are also scheduled to meet with Pastor Padro, district superintendent, to discuss product distribution methods.
Roberto Ruz, general superintendent of the Chile fellowship, reports that he has been unable to contact AG pastors in Concepción area, but all AG pastors and their families in the primary earthquake area are reported safe.
To help with relief efforts, donations can be sent to: AGWM/COH Disaster Relief Chile 410946-8 (68), 1445 N. Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65802-1894.
