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ELCA Website
ELCA Quick Facts
Lutheran Disaster Response
Our ELCA Disaster Response partners are responding to International
Disasters, as well as the ongoing situations in the United
States:
Please see http://www.elca.org/disaster for details, updates,
and ways to contribute
Peru
As you are aware, a powerful earthquake hit Peru on Wednesday,
Aug. 15. More than 510 people were killed and thousands left
homeless.
ELCA Disaster Response is monitoring the situation, particularly
through Action by Churches Together, a global alliance of
faith-based aid agencies.
Water, shelter, food, medicine, and tools are all urgent
needs.. ACT member organizations in Peru are assessing the
situation in preparation for an appeal. One particular partner
on the ground is Lutheran World Relief - Andes Regional Office.
Madagascar
The island of Madagascar has been hit by six cyclones since
Christmas Day, 2006. The ELCA has committed $25,000 to be
sent through ACT to aid the critical needs of the Malagasy
people. This is the first time that Madagascar has
been struck by so many cyclones in such a short period. Seasonal
rains have been made worse by continuous rains - from
the end of December 2006 to the present moment - and resultant
flooding. A severe food crisis is foreseen in the coming
months as 70 to 80 percent of rice crops have been destroyed
and access to vulnerable groups is very difficult.
Congo
Congo - an estimated 16 million people have been directly
affected by hostilities; people who are without access to
adequate food or services, and who have been forced to live
with host communities under circumstances that are not ideal.
Action by Churches Together (ACT International) members in
eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have responded to various
emergencies since 1996. Now, several ACT members, including
the Lutheran World Federation are planning to respond
to some of the needs of the tens of thousands of displaced
people. The proposed programs will concentrate on creating
income-generating projects for women, and provide food and
non-food items. While working with community groups, the
LWF and others will also deliver clean water and sanitation
facilities to minimize HIV and malaria. The ELCA is
contributing $50,000 toward the work of the LWF in the region.
Southeast Asia Floods
Twenty million people are believed to be affected in just
three countries: Bangladesh, India and Nepal, in what is
being described by the United Nations as "the
worst flooding in living memory." Some
1,200 people have lost their lives in India. Eyewitnesses
say the rains have continued for 20 days, and have flooded
out 14 million people, mostly along the Ganges river basin
flowing east to Bangladesh. Tens of thousands of people took
shelter in temporary camps and on higher ground. Most could
not carry food or clothing during evacuation. Nepal
has 270,000 people displaced because of floods and landslides. The
living conditions in the affected areas and relief camps
are appalling and people are not being provided minimum
basic necessities of life.
Action by Churches
Together (ACT International) members Lutheran World Federation,
World Service India Program (LWSI) and Church's Auxiliary
for Social Action (CASA) are responding to the crisis.
Both have a history of responding to disasters for several
decades. The ELCA has committed an initial $100,000 for
India, to be implemented by the LWF India program. In
addition, Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh (LHCB), an ELCA
companion, will be responding to the immediate needs of those
affected by the flooding. The ELCA is sending $20,000 for
LHCB.
And Locally...
Flooding spreads across four states
Significant flooding has struck in Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Texas, and Oklahomaover the weekend that has left at least
13 dead, hundreds evacuated, andscores of homes affected.
Torrential rains, showering parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin
with as much as12 inches, have triggered mudslides and flooding.
At this time, Houston andRushford Minnesota and Soldiers
Grove and Gays Mills Wisconsin are partiallyor completely
evacuated, with the American Red Cross leading in shelteringoperations.
The staffs of the LaCrosse Area Synod of Wisconsin and the
SoutheasternMinnesota Synod are working to contact clergy
and members in the affectedcommunities to offer support.
Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators areassessing damage
in both areas.
Meanwhile, remnants of Tropical Storm Erin have battered
parts of Texas andOklahoma adding to the long summer of flooding
experienced in those states.Lutheran Disaster Response coordinators
are at work in those communities aswell.
Lutheran Social Service of the South, Lutheran Disaster Response's
affiliatein Texas has been coordinating response to hurricanes
Katrina and Rita fornearly two years and is currently making
preparations in light of theapproach of Hurricane Dean, currently
on track to significantly impactMexico.
As we move into long term recovery, Lutheran Disaster Response
will be hardat work in these communities helping with the
needs of those impacted bythese disasters. Lutheran Disaster
Response concentrates on long-termrecovery in activities
like volunteer coordination, spiritual and emotionalcare,
hardship grants, and case management.
Please pray for first responders and these communities currently
at work inthe rescue phase of these disasters.
In God*s Service,
Rev. Kevin MasseyAssistant Director, ELCA Domestic Disaster
Response Lutheran DisasterResponse
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