In world-wide response to the tsunami disaster and Boxing-Day earthquake, humanitarian kindness and the compassion of the Church community and general public has been reflected in financial aid from the Methodist Relief Development Fund, which has now surpassed £155,000.

MDRF’s Kevin Fray commented, "When we launched the appeal, on 27th of December last year, we had no idea that it would be so successful. Thus far, everyone’s response has been quite extraordinary. On behalf of MRDF, and partners through whom the money is being channelled, I sincerely thank everyone who has given so freely. Their generosity and continuous support has been tremendous..."

Action by Churches Together, will be channelling MRDF’s appeal through ecumenical subsidiaries, and from these donated funds MRDF can dispatch money to relevant partners in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka for clothing, medical care and general support to fishing families, whose homes have been destroyed and lives disrupted by the tsunami. CWSDS, the Christian Weaker Section Development Society (featured in last year’s Harvest Pack) is amongst various organisations providing counselling, care and practical assistance for any fortunate survivors.

Co-ordinator of CWSDS Mr Rai, explains, "In a disaster as bad as this, our Christian conscience cannot remain silent. Many families within regions of the tsunami disaster desperately need food, drinking water, clothes and medicines."

Through MRDF’s partners, vitally life-saving aid is going quickly and directly to people who need it.

Coordinator of CWSDS, Kevin Fray: "All your gifts and donations are so precious. £12 buys 10 blankets. £24 buys replacement cooking utensils for 10 families, while £100 buys 20 polythene sheets to provide shelter for those who lost their homes."

The transport and improvisation of aid has been spent on: truckloads of food and water to remote communities; emergency feeding programmes at churches and schools; blankets, clothing and cooking equipment; transport to safe areas for people affected by the flooding; house-reconstruction programmes and trauma counselling.

Designed to challenge and revolutionise existing policies that keep much of the world in poverty, MRDF wants people to think about another recently launched initiative. Under the title of ‘Make Poverty History’, this initiative will be a series of demonstrations and events throughout 2005 .The first public event of this year, being a march by Dawn French and women clergy to Downing Street.

Kevin Fray observed, "The running of this global economy, due to incomprehensible neglect and unwise mismanagement, has been responsible for the suffering of approximately 30,000 victims of poverty suffering or dying, worldwide everyday. On analogy, in the six days between Boxing Day and New Year, statistically more people died through preventable causes of poverty, than the sum total of people killed in the tsunami."

He continued, "Make Poverty History isn’t about giving money, but rather, giving time and energy. We have been overwhelmed by the kindness with which people have given to the MRDF appeal: what we ask now is that people continue their amazing efforts and back our ‘Make Poverty History’ programme."

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are backing ‘The Make Poverty History’ campaign, drawing on the fact that in 2005 the UK has the presidency of the EU and the G8 group of nations. However for action to take place, it is compulsory for other governments to sign up as well.

Kevin Fray concludes, "For the less wealthier countries to survive independently without global aid and consequently share in the world’s growth and prosperity – Britain has an opportunity to utilise the strategic initiative of ‘Make Poverty History’ by enforcing it’s leadership in 2005 to ensure the world is a morally and ethically better place..."