ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 29, 2007
Lutherans Respond to Emergency Situations Overseas
07-046-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) have provided $825,000 in response to emergency
situations in Indonesia, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Zambia
through the church's International Disaster Response.
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.
Darfur, Sudan
"The ongoing civil war in Darfur, Sudan, continues to
displace people from their homes, increasing the number of
internally displaced people," said Dr. Belletech Deressa,
director for international development and disaster response,
ELCA Global Mission. "This emergency continues with no foreseen
solution to the cause of the conflict," she said.
"Already, over 200,000 people are dead and two million
people are displaced. The government of Sudan is making it
difficult for non-governmental organizations to assist displaced
people in Darfur," said Deressa.
Members of Action by Churches Together (ACT) are helping the
people of Darfur. The ELCA sent $200,000 to ACT. The funds will
be implemented by Norwegian Church Aid, which is a member of ACT.
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.
Southern Sudan
"The long civil wars laid waste to much of the
infrastructure in southern Sudan including roads, schools and
health facilities. After the peace accord was signed between the
government and the Liberation Army, many Sudanese refugees have
returned home. Others are in the process of repatriation," said
Deressa. The LWF, Church Ecumenical Action in Sudan (CEAS) and
other church agencies are assisting returnees and are involved in
repatriation and rehabilitation programs, she said. To support
their efforts, the ELCA sent $100,000 to ACT. Funds will be
implemented by the LWF and CEAS.
Mozambique
Heavy rains in Mozambique's neighboring countries of Zambia
and Zimbabwe have forced water levels in the Cahora Bass Dam --
located in Mozambique's Tete province -- to reach capacity level,
causing floods that displaced people and animals, and destroyed
homes, according to Deressa. "The government has declared the
situation as 'emergency.' An estimated 300,000 to 500,000
people were affected by the floods. Many people were killed,"
she said.
The LWF, United Nations and other entities have been helping
to evacuate people. The LWF is assisting 8,000 families with food,
shelter and medicine. To support these efforts the ELCA sent
$75,000 to ACT. Funds will be implemented by the LWF's World
Service Mozambique.
Zambia
In Zambia, heavy rain produced floods in four provinces.
"Houses in affected districts have collapsed and infrastructures
such as roads and bridges have been washed away. In addition,
the floods have collapsed school buildings," said Deressa.
"Maternal services, immunization programs, distribution of
drugs and general treatment services are not reaching the
affected areas because the floods have made these areas
inaccessible. The incidences of malaria are increasing, due to
the stagnant water-borne diseases," Deressa said.
"The damage to crops is immense in most of the fields. The
LWF's Department for World Service is responding to this
emergency by providing food, safe drinking water, medicine for
the prevention of the spread of malaria, clothing, mosquito nets
and other items," she said.
The ELCA sent $50,000 to ACT. Funds will be implemented by
the LWF-World Service Zambia Program.
Indonesia
"Emergency and rehabilitation programs for tsunami-response
(in Indonesia) work will take a few more years," said Deressa.
On Dec. 26, 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean produced a
tsunami that left some 170,000 people dead or missing in northern
Sumatra, Indonesia.
Yayasan Kristen Untuk Kesehatarn Umm (YAKKUM) is a
"companion" of the ELCA engaged in providing assistance to people
in Indonesia, said Deressa. The ELCA is "committed to assist in
rebuilding houses for tsunami (survivors) in the Kuala Bubon
area. YAKKUM is the implementing partner on the ground," she
said.
"The ELCA committed $1 million for the Kuala Bubon project,
and the church sent one third of the commitment last year. The
permanent housing construction has started, and they have already
completed a few houses. After receiving a progress report, ELCA
International Disaster Response sent $300,000" to YAKKUM, said
Deressa.
Sri Lanka
The armed conflict in Sri Lanka has escalated since 2006,
killing more than 3,000 people. More than 200,000 people were
forced to flee their homes, said Deressa. The National Christian
Council of Sri Lanka -- a member of ACT -- and its constituent
members and partners working in Sri Lanka have been reporting a
worsening situation, while carrying out emergency relief
distributions with few resources to assist the most vulnerable
communities, she said.
"The areas mostly affected by renewed violence and
displacement include Jaffina, Trincomalee and Batticaloa," said
Deressa. Sri Lanka also continues to recover from the December
2004 tsunami, and the renewed violence has set back these
recovery efforts, she said. "Access to conflict areas is
restricted by the government, as well as by the Liberation Army
there. The population is left without adequate international
protection and humanitarian assistance. More than 2,000 relief
workers have left the northern and eastern provinces due to
killings and frequent abductions."
In the Jaffa Peninsula of Sri Lanka there are no regular
supply routes by land, said Deressa. Limited food supplies and
soaring prices are making the lives of a half-million people
extremely difficult, she said.
The National Christian Council of Sri Lanka is appealing for
financial support. Funds will help supply food and non-food
items, water and medicines for the internally displaced
population of people. ELCA International Disaster Response sent
$100,000 to ACT. Funds will be implementation by the National
Christian Council of Sri Lanka.
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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
