cbm Canada Assessing Needs of Partner in Chile

Stouffville, ON, March 3, 2010 – Thousands of residents in central and southern Chile still remain without water, electricity, gas and medical care following the 8.8-magnitude earthquake that ruptured off the Pacific coast last Saturday.

The early morning quake, only 90 kilometres from Conception, Chile’s second biggest city, has left over 700 dead. Many small coastal towns bore the brunt of the quake and the powerful tsumani that followed. In the central city of Talca, the main hospital partly collapsed.

Bridges and apartment buildings were destroyed and power lines have been severed. Looting and vandalism is a now a major concern in the major cities as authorities try to restore order.

Through cbm’s partner agency COALIVI, cbm has one project in Concepcion, which has been providing comprehensive education and rehabilitation as well as medical services to children and adults who are blind and visually impaired.

“cbm Canada has just been informed that so far no casualties have been reported among staff and clients,” says Ed Epp, Executive Director of cbm Canada. “But not everyone has been accounted for yet. The building of the eye clinic and education and rehabilitation centre for people with visual disabilities suffered serious damage. Our partner is currently assessing whether the facility will need to be rebuilt.”

COALIVI, a strategic partner of cbm in Chile since 1996, has also been a training centre for many cbm partners and other professionals in the region.

“As in any disaster, cbm’s main concern is for those with disabilities,” adds Epp. “Our partners on the ground are providing emergency life saving care for these marginalized people and their families. At this point, we can only hope and pray that everyone is safe.”

An estimated 1.5 million people have been affected by the quake. It’s estimated that the total economic damage from the quake, the fifth largest in the world in the past century, could exceed over $15 billion.

However, authorities believe two factors helped minimize Chile’s human and economic loss. Chile has stringent seismic preparation and strict building codes, and the epicenter was not near a major metropolis.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.

cbm asks you to please pray for the people of Chile, particularly for those with disabilities.

*Please check back soon for updates to this story on cbm Canada’s web site.