United Women in Faith Calls for Action in the Aftermath of Hurricane Melissa

For Immediate Release 

Contact: press@spotlightpr.org

NEW YORK – United Women in Faith calls for renewed attention to the climate crisis as it mourns the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. It released the following statement, which can be attributed Ilka Vega, executive for Economic and Environmental Justice:

“We are heartbroken to see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, Haiti, and across the Caribbean. We send our condolences and heartfelt prayers to all those impacted by this tragedy. With over 60 lives known to be lost and many more still missing, the impact of this disaster is unfathomable.

“Although frontline communities are least responsible for the climate crisis, they disproportionately suffer its effects. Moreover, women and children are more likely to be displaced and more likely to suffer gender-based violence when there are weather emergencies.

“We are praying with and for our neighbors at Methodist Church in the Caribbean and Americas (MCCA), part of the North America Area of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women (WFMUCW), where the region’s president, Dr. Sandra Gadson lives in Jamaica alongside MCCA members. They are our partners in ministry, and we pray for their safety and protection.

“As these communities mourn and move toward recovery, we urge world leaders to take action so that natural disasters made more destructive by the climate crisis may be diminished. With each passing year, severe weather incidents and disasters are more frequent and severe. We cannot wait. Our leaders must do all they can to address the climate crisis to protect current and future generations. We are asking our members and all others to call their representatives and use the environmental justice resources found here to join United Women in Faith in action. Those looking to give can support the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s efforts.

“As people of faith, we mourn with those who mourn, and we hold in our hearts those impacted by this deadly event. We are committed to advocating for community climate resiliency, renewable energy, and just policies that alleviate and remedy the worst effects of climate emergencies.”

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United Women in Faith is a sisterhood acting in faith to tackle the hard work of the world without hesitation.