Press
Release
For
immediate use
28
November 2013
Coptic Orthodox Church UK
Media and Communications Office
Coptic Orthodox Church (Europe)
Media and Communications Office
The
Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United Kingdom, in conjunction with the Chain of Hope
Charity and humanitarian organisations, sent emergency supplies to the Philippines.
Following a Liturgical service in the Coptic Orthodox
Cathedral of St George on Sunday 24 November 2013, members of the congregation
gathered to package emergency supplies to send to the Philippines. The supplies
were sent in aid of those suffering the devastating aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan
which claimed the lives of over 5,200 people with 1,600 still believed to be
missing, 1.9 million left homeless, and over 600,000 displaced with little to
no resources.
The Coptic
Orthodox Church Centre initiated this appeal and worked in conjunction with the
Chain of Hope Charity and humanitarian organisations both in the United Kingdom
and the Philippines, to provide aid consisting of medical equipment and dry
food supplies, to some of the most severely affected communities in the region.
This came
after His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church
in the United Kingdom, spoke in his Sunday sermon of the responsibility for all
to bring hope to those who need reassurance of the presence of God in the
world, especially during difficult times, further saying:
“We
are called, as ambassadors and stewards of God, to excel in whatever God has
entrusted us with for the benefit of others. This small gesture to send
supplies to those in the Philippines is an act of worship that can witness and
testify to the love of God for all His children who are suffering in the world
today.”
Lisa Yacoub, Programme Manager for the
UK-based charity, Chain of Hope said:
“Supplies
of medical donations from St Thomas Hospital Haemophilia Reference Centre which
had been donated to the Chain of Hope were packaged at The Coptic Centre for
donation to the typhoon-struck regions of the Philippines. The generosity and
good will of the congregation was very inspiring to see. These boxes of medical
supplies composed of blood giving sets, butterfly needles, syringes, alcohol
wipes, bandages, and boxes of non-perishable foods will be sent out to the
Philippines by Aviation without Borders this month for distribution to the
affected areas.”
This is one
of a number of initiatives undertaken by the Coptic Orthodox community in the
United Kingdom in response to social and humanitarian needs, both within
Britain and internationally.
*Ends*
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