Guatemala and Pakistan Disaster Relief Funds Announced

WOCCU's Guatemala Member Reports Damage

Madison, WI- World Council of Credit Unions, Inc. (WOCCU) has activated its international disaster relief fund for the benefit of two international disasters: the Guatemalan landslide and the Pakistani earthquake.

WOCCU has received damage reports from Federación Nacional de Cooperativas de Ahorro y Crédito (FENACOAC), World Council's member in Guatemala. The worst situation is reported in the western regions where there are a number of credit unions: Coosadeco, Acredicom, Salcaja, Cosami, Union Popular, Horizontes and Union Arguenta. It is too early to estimate the credit union damage but many members have been affected. More than 1,000 people have been reported killed, buried in the Oct 11 landslide. WOCCU has a long history with the Guatemala credit unions system, having carried out a technical assistance project there and having worked closely with FENACOAC for many years. There are 25 credit unions, 125 credit union points of service and more than 563,000 credit union members in Guatemala. For more information on FENACOAC see www.fenacoac.com.gt

Pakistani credit unions and members were battered by the recent Asian earthquake. At least 23,000 people were killed in the devastating 7.6 magnitude earthquake of October 8th, the center of which was in Pakistan's mountainous Himalayan region. Nearly 2.5 million people are believed to be homeless as a result of the quake. WOCCU's latest statistical information reported 73 credit unions in Pakistan. Funds raised will be used to assist in reorganizing damaged credit unions and helping credit union members wherever the need is greatest in terms of human or physical capital.

To support the international credit union disaster relief fund, donations for either disaster may be sent to:

Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions, Inc.
5710 Mineral Point Road
P.O. Box 2982
Madison, WI 53701-2982

Or

Wire funds to the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions. Please indicate that your donation is intended for the Pakistan or Guatemalan Disaster Relief Fund:

If you are credit union in the United States, contact your Corporate Credit Union and instruct it to send funds to:

World Council of Credit Unions is the global trade association and development agency for credit unions. World Council promotes the sustainable development of credit unions and other financial cooperatives around the world to empower people through access to high quality and affordable financial services. World Council advocates on behalf of the global credit union system before international organizations and works with national governments to improve legislation and regulation. Its technical assistance programs introduce new tools and technologies to strengthen credit unions' financial performance and increase their outreach.

World Council has implemented more than 290 technical assistance programs in 71 countries. Worldwide, 51,000 credit unions in 100 countries serve 196 million people. Learn more about World Council's impact around the world at www.woccu.org.