Earthquake - Letter from the Moderator

Letter from Moderator regarding the Earthquakes in Turkey & Syria

Earlier this week news headlines focused on the courageous endeavour of first responders engaged in a race against time to rescue victims from the rubble of flattened buildings following a series of devastating earthquakes in Southern Turkey and North West Syria. More than 16,000 men, women and children have lost their lives, many more have been injured, and tens of thousands of homes have been destroyed. Even before these earthquakes, there were over four million people in need of aid in Northwest Syria as a result of years of conflict. So, there is immediate need for a range of vital supplies, such as blankets, mattresses, warm clothing, nutritious food, clean water, medical care and not least safe shelter in the face of what is a bitter winter.

I am keenly aware that many people in our own country are struggling with the increase in cost of living, yet in the face of this unfolding disaster in Turkey and Syria, I would warmly commend this need to you, no matter how small your gift, it is really appreciated. This can be done through the Disaster Emergency Committee Appeal www.dec.org.uk in support of leading aid charities working in Turkey and Syria, or through Christian Aid www.christianaid.ie or Tearfund www.tearfund.org , PCI’s relief and development partners, focused primarily on the relief effort through organisations on the ground in North West Syria.

At this time, we also seek to stand in prayerful solidarity with PCI’s partner church in the region, the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), who have a small number of congregations in the affected region. As an expression of our solidarity we are immediately sending a donation for the practical support of these congregations.

I would encourage members of our congregations to pray earnestly for all those in the region experiencing such unimaginable suffering