March 29, 2007

CHICAGO – 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.

ELCA News Service