JWS BEGIN MASSIVE CONSTRUCTION OF 482 HOMES, 169 K’ HALLS TO HOUSE 1154 MEMBERS DISPLACED BY EARTHQUAKES

MEXICO – The Central American Branch Committee of the Jehovah’s Witnesses has initiated a massive building project to accommodate 1,154 brothers displaced by earthquakes that affected cities in Mexico and Guatemala in September 2017.

The branch committee is building a total of 482 homes and repairing 1,659 others partially damaged by the earthquakes. It will also build a total of 169 Kingdom Halls and 4 Assembly Halls destroyed by the earthquakes. Estimated cost of the project has been put at $10million, while the work will last five to six months.

In September 7, 2017, two earthqakes struck. One measuring 8.2 on the richtal scale and it affected Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, while the other measuring 7.1 magnitude on the richtal scale afftected Morelos and Puebla.

So far 39 disaster relief committee have been set up while some 30 construction servants have made plans to move to the affected areas. An additional 970 have volunteered to assist with the rebuilding work.

“We are confident that Jehovah will bless the work and volunteer spirit of all who “share in the relief ministry” in behalf of our brothers in the affected areas.—2 Corinthians 8:4”, the JWs said in a statement.

Prior to this, the branch organized initial relief efforts immediately following the quakes, providing water, food, medicine, and clothing to our affected brothers.

Giving breakdown of the incident, the JWs stated. “In the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, there were 655 brothers and sisters displaced after the magnitude 8.2 earthquake that occurred on September The planned relief work for the two states includes rebuilding 315 homes and 15 Kingdom Halls. Additionally, damaged structures scheduled to be repaired include 1,039 homes, 108 Kingdom Halls, and 3 Assembly Halls.

“In Mexico City and the states of Mexico, Morelos, and Puebla, the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck on September 19 displaced 463 brothers and sisters. A total of 158 homes will be rebuilt, and an additional 600 homes, 39 Kingdom Halls, and one Assembly Hall will be repaired.

“In Guatemala, the September 7 earthquake displaced 36 brothers and sisters. In the coming months, construction servants and local volunteers will rebuild nine homes and one Kingdom Hall. They will also repair 20 homes and 4 Kingdom Halls”, they said.