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SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gave aid in more than 100 instances of natural disaster, war and famine around the world last year.
According to a news release, the church provided victims of 104 disasters in 52 countries with hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, water, clothing, medical supplies, hygiene kits and other relief items in 2012.
Local church leaders also organized thousands of volunteers, who donated more than 1.3 million hours of service (worth an estimated $28 million).
"As members of the Church, we follow Jesus Christ and His example by helping anyone in need," said Steve Peterson, managing director of Church Welfare Services, which includes humanitarian aid and disaster response.
Hurricane Sandy topped the church's list as the largest disaster relief effort last year. The church said approximately 28,000 of its members donated almost 300,000 hours of service working with neighbors to clean up debris along the East Coast.
The church's other largest disaster response efforts in 2012 were:
Syria
- Civil unrest and refugee crisis
- Food, baby formula, hygiene items, diapers, warm clothing, boots and blankets for refugee camps in Jordan and Lebanon
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200,000 blankets, 50,000 children's coats and 14 pallets of emergency medical supplies for Syrian refugees in Turkey Philippines
- Tropical storm hit Manila area in August, causing severe flooding, affecting more than 900,000 people, and killing more than 70
- Food kits, sanitation kits, blankets, clothes, housing materials and other relief items assembled and distributed by church members in the Philippines
- More than 900 tornadoes reported March - October; 68 deaths confirmed
- Relief provided in 12 states; more than 2,000 volunteers helped with cleanup
- Ongoing effort from earthquake and tsunami in March 2011
- $13 million committed to support relief and recovery efforts in communities devastated by the tsunami
- More than 250 tons of supplies distributed during the first few months following the disaster, including food, water, blankets, bedding, hygiene supplies, clothing and fuel
- More than 31,000 church-sponsored volunteers provided 608,000+ hours of service to date
- LDS employment resource center operating in the Sendai area for those who lost jobs due to the disaster
