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Ahmadabad, India
MCC, Christian Aid respond to India quake


An earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter Scale shook Gujarat State in western India January 27. The city sustaining the most damage was Bhuj, located only 15 miles from the epicentre of the quake, where about 5000 people have died. Early reports stated that nearly 1000 people died in the city of Ahmadabad, and thousands of others remain buried beneath rubble there.

The quake, India’s worst in 50 years, was felt over all of India, Nepal and Pakistan. Hundreds of aftershocks continued after the quake. One aftershock on January 29, located 850 miles southeast of the epicentre, registered a magnitude of 4.3 and lasted almost 30 seconds. The quake may have killed more than 20,000 people. Indian government officials say the death toll could rise to 100,000.

Mennonite Central Committee has provided $500,000 to rural families affected by the quake. Through Canadian farmers’ donations to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, most will go toward reconstruction efforts administered by CASA (Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action), the relief and development agency of the Indian Council of Churches.

CASA workers are helping supply 35,000 families with food, drinking water, relief kits and tarpaulins. They are targeting at least 70 villages.

Through food-for-work programs, residents will receive locally purchased grains for their help with reconstruction over a six- to nine-month period. CASA will use at least $450,000 of MCC’s contribution for these programs.

While MCC does have an office and workers in Calcutta in eastern India, the earthquake hit an area in western India where MCC does not have workers. However, it is an area where Ten Thousand Villages, a program of MCC, purchases products from local artisan groups. In early February, a three-person MCC team travelled to Ahmadabad and found the artisans unharmed, although some of their homes were damaged.

Also helping in relief efforts is Christian Aid, an international organization providing financial support for indigenous Christian missions worldwide. Christian Aid (India Division) is supporting six indigenous missionary teams in the area. These teams are helping to search for survivors, provide blankets for the homeless and rebuild homes. Christian World Service reports that water and power shortages and a lack of medical supplies are obstructing relief efforts.

Over the last two years, Gujarat State, particularly in Ahmadabad, has been plagued with a rise of anti-Christian persecution by Hindu radicals. Christians here say the earthquake has given them the chance to demonstrate Christ’s life through selfless action. Those who have been persecuted are able to return hatred with love and help bring them to salvation, said Lance Thollander, Christian Aid director for India.

 – adapted from reports by MCC, Evangelical Press News Service, Christian Aid

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Last modified March 7, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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