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.
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Resources:
www.CopticCentre.com
www.BishopAngaelos.org
www.ChainOfHope.org
www.AviationWithoutBorders.org
