ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 24, 2006
Lutherans Respond to the Risk of Famine in East Africa
06-046-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Drought conditions are leading to the risk
of famine in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and other countries in
East Africa. International Disaster Response of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is responding to the potential
risk with funds to help provide for food, medicine, drinking
water, emergency shelter and other materials. International
Disaster Response is coordinated through ELCA Global Mission.
About 2 million people in Somalia, and 150,000 people in
Djibouti are "in dire need of food assistance" according to a
United Nations' report, said Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for
international development and disaster response, ELCA Global
Mission.
The Kenyan government reported that 3 million to 4 million
people are now at risk of starvation in the north, northeast,
west and coastal regions of Kenya, said Deressa. "The United
Nations (reported) about 2 million people in east and southeast
Ethiopia are now in need of urgent aid," she said.
Most of the people affected by drought conditions are
agriculturalists and pastoralists, who base their livelihood on
cattle and farm animals, Deressa said.
In response to an Action by Churches Together (ACT) appeal
for funds, ELCA International Disaster Response provided $150,000
toward relief in Kenya, $100,000 for aid in Ethiopia, and $30,000
for aid in Tanzania. Once an appeal for funds to help meet the
needs of people in Djibouti and Somalia has reached the ELCA
churchwide office, "we will respond," said Deressa.
This year ELCA International Disaster Response provided a
total of $250,000 to support the distribution of food and water
in Kenya, said Deressa. In February Lutherans provided $100,000,
she said.
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
Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA
is a member of the WCC and LWF.
The LWF, Church World Service, Kenya Evangelical Lutheran
Church, Ethiopian Evangelical (Lutheran) Church Mekane Yesus,
Lutheran World Relief and the Christian Council of Churches are
also responding to the crisis in East Africa, said Deressa. ELCA
companions are providing for the immediate need of food and water
for people and cattle, said Deressa.
The Borana people in the Oroma region of southern Ethiopia
depend on their cattle, a major source of food and income, she
said. "The wealth of a family is based on the number of cattle
they own."
Deressa said local authorities report that more than half a
million people in the Borana district are in urgent need of
assistance, but the true extent of this need could (in actuality
be) double.
"ELCA International Disaster Response will continue to
respond to the situation by accompanying our companion churches
and agencies that are (organizing) relief efforts. The needs
continue to rise because of the drought, and the normal rainy
season is still a few months away," she said.
"We ask you to remember in your prayers people who are
facing this famine, farmers who are losing their only (source of)
wealth, and children and women who go to bed hungry every day.
We ask you to pray for rain and good weather," said Deressa.
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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
