August 5, 2010

CHICAGO – International Disaster Response (IDR) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has committed $100,000 in response to widespread flooding in Pakistan.

The organization will work through a U.S.-based ecumenical partner disaster response agency, Church World Service (CWS), New York.

"It is through the ELCA's commitment to strong ecumenical partnerships that we are pre-positioned to respond with CWS to those affected in Pakistan," said the Rev. Rafael Malpica Padilla, executive director, ELCA Global Mission. He added that the ELCA's efforts with CWS are "an expression of the global ACT (Action by Churches Together) Alliance."

As many as 1,500 people have died in the Pakistan floods – caused by the seasonal monsoon – and at least 1.5 million people were displaced by severe flooding in five provinces of the country. The provinces include Balochistan, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Kyber Paktunkwa and Sindh. The monsoon normally affects Pakistan between June and September.

The military deployed 30,000 troops who have helped rescue nearly 21,000 people. Rescue workers are struggling to save more than 27,000 people still trapped by the water. A spokesperson for Pakistan's National Disaster Management Authority said the most pressing humanitarian needs are food and safe drinking water.

Assessments conducted by CWS and other partner organizations indicated that survivors face serious challenges given the loss of housing, crops and livestock, according to Megan Bradfield, IDR associate director, ELCA Global Mission. In addition to the human toll, more than 100 bridges have been destroyed and more than 3,700 houses have been swept away, CWS reported.

Bradfield said initial efforts by CWS have included providing food and shelter kits; conducting assessments in affected areas and identifying beneficiaries; and providing emergency health assistance through a mobile health unit.

Based on its assessments, CWS plans to provide emergency assistance to an estimated 70,000 people, food assistance to about 35,000 people, emergency shelter supplies to meet the needs of about 17,500 people, and mobile health access for 17,500 people, she added.

Information about how the ELCA responds to disasters is at http://www.ELCA.org/disaster/, on the ELCA Web site.

Information about Church World Service is at http://www.churchworldservice.org/, on the Web.

ELCA News Service