ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 30, 2009

ELCA Provides Funds to Support Humanitarian Efforts in Pakistan
09-142-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
provided $75,000 in humanitarian relief June 26 to help meet the needs of
people in northern Pakistan.
     In the past few weeks military and insurgent actions have driven an
estimated 3.5 million people away from their homes in the Swat region of
Pakistan's North West Frontier Province.
     The ELCA sent the funds to Church World Service (CWS), which is
working to respond to the needs of people there. The ELCA participates in
the work of CWS, an international relief and development agency.
     A majority of people displaced from their homes are staying in
outdoor camps, while others are living with host families and friends or
in ad hoc shelters and rented accommodations.
     "Host communities are strained and expressed urgent need to identify
more land for camps," said Megan Bradfield, associate director for
international disaster response, ELCA Global Mission.
     Bradfield said conditions of camps and host communities are "highly
hazardous." A majority of families displaced are being housed in 12-by-12-
foot rooms with no water or sanitation facilities, she said. "Poor
shelter and hygiene have resulted in an outbreak of disease (and
illnesses) such as scabies, stomach flu, malaria, respiratory tract
infections, traumatic disorders and more."
     CWS is organizing the distribution of food, non-food relief items
and shelter kits that include tents, blankets and groundsheets for
displaced individuals and families in Pakistan.
     With monsoon season arriving in a few weeks, aid providers said the
provision of clean water and tents is paramount.
     Some of CWS' long-term response will include vocational training to
enhance the skills of men and women, education for children, health care
services, advocacy and other measures to secure the quality of
humanitarian relief and development work.
     "The ELCA has direct access to on-the-ground responders with a high
degree of experience and confidence," said the Rev. Daniel Rift,
director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "We would love for
Lutherans and others to consider the ELCA as their organization of choice
in responding to the crisis."
- - -
     Information about the Pakistan humanitarian crisis is at
http://www.ELCA.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/Disaster-Response/Ongoing-Responses/Pakistan-Humanitarian-Crisis.aspx
on the Web.
     
     ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal at http://www.ELCA.org/hunger
and ELCA Global Mission at http://www.ELCA.org/globalmission on the ELCA
Web site.

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