Title: Lutherans Assist with Europe Flood Relief Efforts ELCA NEWS SERVICE NEWS BRIEF August 8, 1997 ACT TO ASSIST FLOODED EUROPE Parts of Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus were hit by extensive flooding following unusually heavy rainfalls in July. Major damage and destruction occurred in parts of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Armenia. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes in advance of rising flood waters, according to Action by Churches Together (ACT). ACT has called for help to provide emergency relief for flood victims including the provision of safe drinking water, food, medicine, emergency shelter materials, clothing and other basic relief items. ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. Communications were disrupted, crops and property destroyed, transportation systems and roads made unusable, and water and sanitation infrastructure extensively damaged, ACT reports. The floods have caused billions of dollars in damages. ACT's assistance focuses on the short term emergency needs for drinking water, food, medicine, clothing, cooking stoves, fuel, blankets, disinfectants, clean-up materials, and hand hygiene materials. Additional assistance has been provided for evacuation of youth and children from flood zones, provision of temporary shelter for the displaced, repairs to drinking water systems and initial clean-up from the flood damages. ACT targeted early assistance to areas of Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Armenia. ACT has appealed for $1,760,000 and will continue to provide targeted relief to flood victims in Poland, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. The Lutheran World Federation is a worldwide communion of 124 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