United Women in Faith Calls for Action in Wake of Hong Kong and Sri Lanka Disasters

For Immediate Release

Contact: press@spotlightpr.org

NEW YORK – United Women in Faith today mourned the devastating impacts of Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka and a preventable fire in Hong Kong. It released the following statement, which can be attributed to Ilka Vega, executive for Economic and Environmental Justice:

“We are heartbroken to see the devastation left by recent disasters in Hong Kong and across South Asia. In Hong Kong, a preventable fire has killed over 150 people. In Sri Lanka, and across South Asia, Cyclone Ditwah and the ensuing floods have killed over 400 people. With devastating flooding and wreckage left behind, more than 300 others are still missing. Our hearts and prayers are with all those impacted by these events.

“Moreover, we know that Cyclone Ditwah is the most recent in a trend of natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. It shows yet again that frontline communities, and particularly women and children, disproportionately suffer the effects of climate change despite being least responsible for the climate crisis.

“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. We cannot wait for the next disaster to take hundreds more lives. 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.

“As people of faith, we mourn with those who mourn, and we hold in our hearts those impacted by these catastrophic events. We are committed to advocating for community climate resiliency 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.