Title: Lutherans Assist with Africa Drought Relief ELCA NEWS SERVICE - NEWSBRIEF March 12, 1997 KENYA, TANZANIA DROUGHT RELIEF Action by Church Together (ACT) is responding to the slow onslaught of drought in Tanzania and Kenya. Harvests from 1992 to 1995 were poor due to prolonged drought. In 1996 long rain improved harvests, but the short rains which were normally due later that year failed completely. ACT reports the presence of large numbers of refugees in the Kagera and Kigoma regions is also adversely affecting the food supply situation in these regions where food prices have risen substantially. The government of Kenya has declared a disaster that may affect 2 million people. ACT has sent $50,000 through Tanganyika Christian Refugee Service which will provide a supply of short- term drought resistant seeds for planting this month. ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. A food assessment mission found that some 280,000 people are likely or already suffering from food shortage in the rural Arusha and Kilimanjaro areas of Northern Tanzania, areas inhabited by small-scale farmers. The complete failure of short rains has escalated the shortages. Long rains are also late in many places, indicating that a food shortage disaster beyond April 1997 is imminent. ACT will plan for distribution of food aid to the most vulnerable groups. The Lutheran World Federation is a worldwide communion of 122 member churches, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask] http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html