September 28, 2011

NEW YORK, USA/GENEVA – The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has called on the United Nations (UN) to intensify its collaboration with civil society in the Horn of Africa in dealing with the "grave crisis" caused by drought and conflict in the region.

"Churches and religious organizations of other faiths are present and active throughout the region. They are engaged at the local level in impressive interfaith dialogue and acts of reconciliation, compassion and human solidarity," said LWF representative Mr Dennis Frado, who presented the organization's statement at the 24 September UN ministerial-level mini-summit on the Horn of Africa crisis, held in New York.

The LWF, which has consultative status with the UN and manages on behalf of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in Kenya, is active in the Horn of Africa through its member churches and its humanitarian relief arm–Department for World Service (DWS). It provides skills training, water and sanitation assistance and environmental protection.

"We strive to see that each person arriving at a camp is being met with dignity and treated as an equal," said Frado, director of the Lutheran Office for World Community, which represents the LWF at the UN headquarters.

The LWF noted that many members of Lutheran congregations in the Horn of Africa have been affected by the drought, the worst in almost 60 years. Water levels are low and livestock herds have been diminished. Still, local churches are drilling water holes, organizing schools and supporting farming project.

"The people and churches of host countries, such as Kenya and Ethiopia, need our solidarity and support not only so they can sustain their generous welcome to the refugees, but also so that they can sustain their livelihoods in this time of drought," Frado said.

The LWF asked the UN to take urgent measures to protect women from violence in the region, stating that they have been attacked while travelling to the camps and in Dadaab and that this remains an "enormous concern."

It urged the UN to recognize that camps like the one at Dadaab, which houses more than 400,000 refugees, should not be considered long-term solutions, particularly for young people growing up there. "They have little opportunity for education, have very limited opportunities to imagine a better future and are vulnerable to be recruited into armed groups," the LWF maintained.

In its statement the LWF underlined the need for long-term rehabilitation, adaptation for climate change and disaster preparedness in the region, and urged a redoubling of international efforts for peace in Somalia.

The LWF also raised a pointed funding question at the UN: "Why is there a funding shortfall of almost USD 700 million to save the lives of so many unfortunate vulnerable people, when sums of 50 or even 100 times that amount can be quickly raised to rescue the global financial industry?"

At the one-day summit, some USD 218 million was pledged in new aid to the Horn of Africa, according to UN news sources. This amount is a shortfall of around USD 500 million to the nearly USD 2.5 billion emergency appeal for the region.

The full text of the LWF statement is available on the LWF Web site at: http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=507&L=105&F=T.

Watch the Webcast of the mini-summit at: http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=507&L=106&F=T.

Support the LWF response in the Horn of Africa: http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=507&L=86&F=T.

Read more: http://www.lwf-assembly2003.org/lwf-interspire/link.php?M=2227&N=507&L=88&F=T.

Lutheran World Information