wfn.org | ACT Works with Afghanistan Quake Victims

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 1, 1998

ACT WORKS WITH  AFGHANISTAN QUAKE VICTIMS
98-20-125-AH

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Action by Churches Together (ACT) reports 3,500
casualties as a result of the May 30 earthquake in northeastern
Afghanistan.  The figure may rise as information becomes available from
more remote villages.
     The quake completely destroyed several of the 41 villages in the
Badakshan Province, ACT reports.  Shelter, food and clean water are
priorities for ACT's work. Temperatures at night are below freezing.
     Working through Norwegian Church Aid and local organizations, ACT
carried out an initial survey and distributed 20,000 meals as well tents
and blankets.  ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the
Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through coordinated emergency
response.
     Heavy rain restricted rescue operations on May 31, ACT reports.  Most
roads are impassable.  ACT hopes to purchase food locally and bring in
tents and blankets from outside the area.
     This earthquake hit approximately the same part of Afghanistan that
was affected by a February quake.  Relief work is underway in those areas
through Norwegian Church Aid and Church World Service.   These agencies
will coordinate further assessments and relief  operations for the victims
of the most recent earthquake.
     Lutheran World Federation is a communion of 124 Lutheran churches
worldwide, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html