March 3, 2008
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper

International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $50,000 Feb. 18 in response to flooding in eastern and northern Namibia. The funds were sent to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia in support of the church's flood relief work.

The flooding in Namibia "is not front-page news" outside of the African country, "but some northern parts of Namibia have been hit with the worst flooding in 50 years," said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international leadership development, ELCA Global Mission. At least 21 people have been killed, and thousands of people have been rendered homeless, he said.

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.

ELCA News Service