ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 17, 2007
Lutherans Support Cyclone-Relief Efforts in Madagascar
07-143-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Six cyclones have struck Madagascar since
December 2006, leaving homes damaged and food supplies sparse.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has provided
$25,000 in August to support recovery efforts there.
"This is the first time that Madagascar has been struck by
so many cyclones in such a short period of time," said the Rev.
Y. Franklin Ishida, spokesperson for ELCA Global Mission.
Cyclone Bondo made landfall on Dec. 25, 2006, Cyclone Clovis
on Jan. 3, 2007, Cyclone Favio on Jan. 18, Cyclone Gamede on Feb.
26, Cyclone Indlala on March 15 and Cyclone Jaya on April 3.
Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern
coast of Africa.
"Seasonal rains have been made worse by the Intertropical
Convergence Zone, which is moving slightly south. The continuous
rainfall has now produced floods," Ishida said.
People living in the rural areas of Madagascar were not able
to have their staple food of rice after the series of cyclones.
Grain storage has been flooded and fruit trees are damaged,
reported Ishida.
Strong winds blew away roofs and huts along the eastern
coast, leaving many families homeless. Schools, hospitals and
other buildings were damaged. Families rendered homeless "do not
wait for external support to rebuild their huts. Some
reconstruction kits, such as tools and other building materials,
need to be distributed to allow for the repair of homes and other
buildings," said Ishida.
The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar -- a member of
Action by Churches Together (ACT) -- has issued an appeal for
funds to support the distribution of food and non-food recovery
items and the rehabilitation of schools. ELCA funds were sent to
ACT for implementation by the Church of Jesus Christ in
Madagascar.
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 Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both in
Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
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
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog
