Long-term Relief to Include Home Building, Livestock, Sewing Machines

Contact: Taun Cortado, 
972-300-3120,
tauncortado@gfa.org

DALLAS, Oct. 15, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ -- Gospel for Asia (GFA) (www.gfa.org) is providing food, drinking water and temporary shelter to those hardest hit by the devastating Cyclone Hudhud, which pounded India's coastal Andhra Pradesh region on Sunday and already has killed dozens of people.

Photo: Residents of Vishakapatnam, India, look at one of the many fishing boats damaged by  Cyclone Hudhud.  Rescue workers and soldiers cleared uprooted trees and electrical poles blocking roads in eastern India after a tropical cyclone killed at least 24 people and demolished nearly 100,000 homes. (AP Photo/Press Trust of India)

News outlets report that the city of Visakhapatnam is "in ruins," 24 deaths have been reported to date and others are still missing.  Nearly 100,000 homes were destroyed by winds clocked at 127 miles per hour.  Hospitals are filled with people seeking food, water and other essentials. 
As supplies run thin, prices have dramatically increased across a broad spectrum of goods. Many roads are blocked because strong winds have blown over trees or buildings.  Phone communication is cut off, and no electricity is currently available in the hardest hit areas.
The strong storm also destroyed several churches led by GFA pastors and dozens of homes that belonged to believers. 

In addition to providing immediate relief supplies like food, water and temporary shelter, GFA Compassion Service is preparing for long-term relief, which includes home reconstruction, gifts of livestock and sewing machines. These supplies not only help relieve the damage of items lost, but also enable people to learn skills that can help them provide for their families and others.

"As the complete devastation from this weekend's cyclone becomes clear, we are reminded again of how precious our lives are — not only to our families, but also to God," said Dr. K. P. Yohannan, founder and international director of GFA. "Our workers on the ground are doing everything they can to provide for the basic needs of those affected by this disaster and to communicate and demonstrate the love of Christ to as many people as possible."

Yohannan called for prayer for God's protection over those helping bring relief in areas devastated by Cyclone Hudhud, encouragement for those now living unsure of what the future holds and for pastors and missionaries who will be ministering to those who lost loved ones and homes.

For more than 35 years, GFA has supported thousands of missionaries across South Asia, but primarily in the 10/40 Window. The ministry shares the love of Christ through radio in over 21 countries.  In addition, GFA offers education to impoverished children through its Bridge of Hope centers, ministers to women and provides a host of compassionate services, especially among the outcasts of society.  

Additional information about GFA's response to the cyclone and its work in the region is available at www.gfa.org/info/hudhud.
  
Gospel for Asia (www.gfa.org) is a ministry based in Dallas, Texas, involved in sharing the love of Jesus across South Asia.

To schedule an interview with a Gospel for Asia representative, contact Taun Cortado @ 972-300-3120 or tauncortado@gfa.org.