ELCA NEWS SERVICE

August 2, 2007  

Lutherans Support People in Africa, Asia and Middle East
07-138-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) are working to help meet the basic needs of
people affected by unrest, war and natural disasters overseas.
Through ELCA International Disaster Response, Lutherans provided
a total of $270,000 to support the needs of people in Africa,
Asia and the Middle East.
     Coordinated by ELCA Global Mission, International Disaster
Response channels its funds through international church
organizations and relief agencies.  Funds provide for food,
medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials
for survivors of disasters.
     "There are many needs in the world.  ELCA International
Disaster Response is helping many communities.  We are very
grateful to many ELCA congregations for their support and
(continue to) seek ongoing financial support for response to many
of the disasters" around the world, said Dr. Belletech Deressa,
director for international development and disaster response,
ELCA Global Mission.

Chad
     Conflict among various armed groups in the Darfur region of
Africa significantly escalated in 2003, according to Deressa.
"The conflict in Darfur continues to be characterized by cross-
border violence spilling into Chad, and a reign of terror against
people in villages under attack," which is causing thousands of
people to be displaced from their homes, she said.
     The conflict in eastern Chad is complex, Deressa said.
There are refugees from Darfur and from the Central African
Republic there, as well as Chad's own internal conflict, she
said.
     Members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) and the
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) conducted an "assessment mission"
in eastern Chad in May and June.  Based on the results of the
assessment, ACT issued an appeal for funds to provide for the
needs of people displaced there.
     ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies
working to save lives and support communities in emergency
situations worldwide.  It is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the LWF in Geneva.  The ELCA is a member of
the WCC and LWF.
     "Many people are facing a deplorable health and sanitation
situation which gets worse with the rainy season from June to
September.  Aside from chronic poverty and underdevelopment that
marks life for most Chadians, there are three groups of displaced
persons currently in Chad -- about 200,000 Darfur refugees who
fled Sudan in 2003-2004; about 40,000 Central African Republic
refugees in southern Chad; and internally-displaced people
affected by the conflict from Darfur," said Deressa.
     The LWF is heading and implementing emergency relief efforts
in Chad, according to Deressa.  Norwegian Church Aid, a member of
ACT, will help with water sanitation there.  The ELCA responded
to an ACT appeal for funds with $100,000.  The funds will be
implemented by the LWF.  "These funds will be used for food,
water and other essential basic needs for people living in
refugee camps in Chad," she said.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
     In the DRC an estimated 16 million people who have been
directly affected by hostilities are without access to adequate
food or service and have been forced to live with host
communities under circumstances that are not ideal, said Deressa.
     ACT members in eastern DRC have responded to various
emergencies there since 1996.  Its current appeal for funds will
be used to create income-generating projects for women, provide
for food and nonfood items, clean water and sanitation
facilities, said Deressa.
     "ELCA International Disaster Response has been responding to
emergencies in DRC since 1996.  It provided $50,000 in July 2007
to help the Lutheran World Federation provide food, shelter and
clean water to people in the DRC," she said.

Occupied Palestinian Territories
      The unrest in the occupied Palestinian territories "is of
great concern," said Deressa.  "Many Palestinians have no jobs,
and the economic conditions of people in Gaza and the West Bank
are getting worse.  The Middle East Council of Churches, an ELCA
companion agency, is providing food and health care services to
the most vulnerable in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.  The
most affected people are children, women and the elderly," she
said.
     ELCA International Disaster Response sent $50,000 in
response to ACT's financial appeal.  The funds will be used to
purchase food and provide medical assistance for people most
affected there.

Asia
     "Since December 26, 2004, ELCA International Disaster
Response has been providing financial assistance to survivors of
the tsunami, particularly in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and
Somalia," Deressa reported.
     In an effort to continue to rebuild after the tsunami, ELCA
International Disaster Response provided $70,000 through ACT for
the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India.  The funds will
be used to build houses for the Dalit community of Addathidevi
Village, India.

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors:  When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to
survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto
Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764, Chicago, IL
60694-1764, 1-800-638-3522 and
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
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