ELCA NEWS SERVICE
January 5, 2005
Lutheran Churches In South Asia Continue Tsunami Recovery
05-001-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran churches in South Asia, in partnership
with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), continue to raise
and provide funds and distribute emergency supplies to survivors of a
tidal wave that struck southern Asia Dec. 26, when an underwater
earthquake created the tsunami that claimed lives in several coastal
countries of the Indian Ocean.
According to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), as of Jan. 3 more
than 150,000 people in 12 countries were confirmed dead. The LWF is a
global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran tradition. Based
in Geneva, Switzerland, the LWF has 138 member churches in 77 countries.
The ELCA is a member of the LWF.
"We are beginning to hear specifics from our partner churches in
South Asia regarding significant loss of life and property. Churches,
synod offices and homes have been destroyed, but those losses pale as we
mourn the loss of so many lives. The LWF is committed for the long term
and has been a presence in this region for decades. The LWF member
churches in Asia will inform us as to how we can be the most helpful,"
said Kathy J. Magnus, regional office for North America, LWF. The office
is housed at the ELCA churchwide organization here.
"ELCA funds are sent through Action by Churches Together, the agency
the LWF uses for its emergency relief. Currently that partnership
includes the National Council of Churches in Sri Lanka, LWF Lutheran World
Service India, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, Lutheran
Churches in Indonesia and others," she said.
"The Lutheran World Federation is deeply appreciative of the
generosity of the people of the ELCA at this very difficult time for all
those affected by the tsunami," Magnus said.
The ELCA International Disaster Response released $100,000 to
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) for its "Wave of Giving" tsunami relief
efforts Jan. 5. LWR works overseas in relief and development on behalf of
the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
"We are grateful for the work of all our partners in responding to
this terrible disaster," said Kathryn Sime, director, ELCA World Hunger
and Disaster Appeal.
"Our relationships with these trusted World Hunger partners and
companion churches allowed us to respond soon after the tsunamis struck.
The immediate and generous response of our ELCA members and congregations
now allows us to release an additional $100,000 to Lutheran World Relief
for their emergency and long-term response in South and Southeast Asia. I
give thanks to God for the outpouring of prayers, concern and gifts from
our church and for the compassionate and effective disaster ministries of
all our church partners," she said.
"The ELCA is committed to providing up to 50 percent of its
International Disaster Response income designated for tsunami disaster
relief to LWR," said Belletech Deressa, director for international
development and disaster response, ELCA Division for Global Mission. The
other 50 percent of the church's income designated for tsunami relief will
be sent to "our Lutheran companion churches in South and Southeast Asia,
and other ecumenical organizations, to support their relief efforts,"
Deressa said.
On Dec. 29 the ELCA International Disaster Response released $150,000
to support immediate relief efforts in South Asia. It sent $100,000 to
Action by Churches Together (ACT); $30,000 to support the work of the
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India; and $20,000 for other
regional recovery work, particularly in Indonesia.
Coordinated by the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International
Disaster Response often channels its funds through international church
organizations and relief agencies. ACT is a worldwide network of churches
and related agencies that meets human need through organized emergency
response. It is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the
LWF, both in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of WCC and LWF.
Lutheran Relief Work in Indonesia
In Indonesia, more than 94,000 deaths have been reported, mainly in
the northern province of Aceh, according to LWF.
The Rev. Bonar Napitupulu, bishop of the (Lutheran) Protestant
Christian Batak Church (HKBP), Sumatra, Indonesia, said there has been
"overwhelming" support from pastors and other church members to coordinate
assistance in the worst-hit areas of Indonesia. The western coastline of
Sumatra was the first to be hit by the tsunami, particularly Aceh, Cermin
(Serdan Bendagei), Nias and Pantai. Napitupulu called on members of HKBP
and the ecumenical community worldwide to "help our friends" in these
areas through a special offering on Jan. 2.
According to Ria Sidabutar-Pardede, HKBP member, Jakarta, Indonesia,
a church of the HKBP in Banda Aceh is "flooded with mud" to a depth of 1.5
meters with 50 corpses that had not yet been removed, given the lack of
equipment. About 100 members of the congregation died, 300 have been
rendered homeless and 70 had to be evacuated to the HKBP hospital in
Balige, Indonesia. The pastor's home of the church in Banda Aceh and
synod building were "wiped out," reported Sidabutar-Pardede.
The HKBP is "badly in need of medicine, food and clothes." A
post-disaster phase will include trauma healing and the building of a new
life for survivors of the tsunami, Sidabutar-Pardede said.
With 3 million members, the HKBP is the largest of 12 LWF member
churches in Indonesia. The church has established three "coordination
posts" in Aceh, Bedagei and Nias Island. Assistance is being coordinated
with support from the government and military, non-governmental
organizations and other groups. The HKBP and Simalungun Protestant
Christian Church are major Lutheran churches in the areas south of Aceh,
in and around the city of Medan.
United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
In India, "the government continues to maintain the official report
on the death toll of the disaster," according to the Rev. Chandran Paul
Martin, executive secretary, United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India
(UELCI).
The government reports that 9,479 is the official death toll, with
Tamilnadu alone accounting for 7,814 people killed, Paul Martin said.
Tamilnadu is a state in southern India. "More than 10,000 people are
still reported as missing or untraced. Both the central and state
governments have launched massive relief organizations and almost in all
instances are working with non-governmental organizations," he said.
"The non-governmental organizations and churches are now engaged in
the second stage of the crisis" phase, said Paul Martin. Some of the
"major problems" facing survivors are "diarrhea, cholera and dehydration.
Problems such as gastroenteritis, respirator infections and depression are
also expected. Several children are in need of pediatric attention and
some adults are to be treated for major injuries. The government has
appointed a relief commissioner at the Chennai secretariat, who is
currently involved in coordinating the relief work of the government, as
well as coordinating voluntary work," he said.
The UELCI has dispatched four teams for relief work, reported Paul
Martin. These teams are reporting from Chirala, Cuddalore, Kanuakumari,
Nagercoil, Tranquebar and other affected areas.
The UELCI has sent appeal applications for relief and rehabilitation
to ACT. In its proposal to ACT, the UELCI requests intervention in three
phases -- crisis, post-crisis and rehabilitation, said Paul Martin. The
church has also identified, "among other things, an intensive
comprehensive medical and health engagement including psychological-social
counseling. [The church] will work and implement its programs through its
partners and other program units, such as Lutheran World Service in
India," he said.
Lutheran Response in Thailand
According to a Jan. 4 report from the Bangkok Post, the death toll of
the tsunami disaster in Thailand has reached 5,187 with another 8,457
people injured and 3,810 people still missing, said Sally Lim, LWF
secretariat, Thailand.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand (ELCT) does not have any
congregations in the south, said Lim. The ELCT is involved in providing
monetary donations, as well as personnel helping survivors in southern
Thailand and working in hospitals in Bangkok, she said.
"The five provinces -- Phuket, Ranong, Phang Nga, Satun and Trang --
about between 500 and 1,000 kilometers away from Bangkok, suffered great
losses in terms of human lives and properties. The country has been
united in the rescue work, and international organizations have also
provided expertise and humanitarian assistance in many ways to help with
the situation. Together with budgets from the government and donations
from both local and foreign organizations, the government has been giving
out medical, psychological and financial aid to help survivors of the
disaster start a new life," Lim reported.
"The government has also started restoration work to clear the
beaches and to build houses for the several thousands who had been
rendered homeless. Students from schools that were washed out had also
been transferred temporarily to other nearby schools while the new
buildings are being built. About 100 young orphans have been brought
under the patronage of the King of Thailand. Business and hotels will
also receive government aid to restore the south as some of the world's
most popular tourist beach resorts. It was also reported that only about
10 percent or more of the corals and sea life in the region were badly
affected," Lim said.
_ _ _
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, or at
http://www.elca.org/scriptlib/dcm/giving/idisaster.asp on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news
