wfn.org | Lutherans Respond To 'Silent Emergencies' Worldwide

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

April 20, 2005

Lutherans Respond To 'Silent Emergencies' Worldwide
05-075-MRC

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
continues to respond to "silent emergencies" around the world.	Through
the ELCA International Disaster Response, members of the church provided
more than $1 million last year to support relief efforts following
disasters, many of which have been long forgotten by the news media.
     "Many emergencies such as civil war or famine are covered [in the
news media] for a few days and then ignored as if the problem disappeared,
yet recovery from civil war and famine takes years," wrote Dr. Belletech
Deressa, director for international development and disaster response,
ELCA Division for Global Mission, in an annual report.
     "In an emergency situation, the primary objective is to save lives,
alleviate suffering and provide food, medicine, shelter and clothing, as
well as provide protection in war-like emergency situations," Deressa
said.
     Through ELCA International Disaster Response members of the church
have sent $100,000 this month to support continuing relief efforts in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting between Rwandan
military and DRC troops has caused thousands of people to flee their
homes.
     "In the past seven years, more than 3.7 million people have died
because of the civil war.  Now there is hope for peace, and international
support is much needed for rehabilitation and people to return home,"
Deressa said.
     Funds were sent to Action by Churches Together (ACT) for
implementation by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).	ACT is a worldwide
network of churches and related agencies that meets human need through
organized emergency response.  It is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the LWF, both in Geneva, Switzerland.  The ELCA is a
member of the LWF -- a 66-million-member global communion of 138 Lutheran
churches in 77 countries -- and of the WCC.
      Lutherans provided $100,000 last month to support ongoing
humanitarian efforts in Sudan, where fighting and militia attacks have led
to a massive displacement of people in various regions of the African
country.  Funds were sent to ACT for implementation by Norwegian Church
Aid, which is working to meet the basic needs of people there, especially
in the western region of Darfur.
     "The situation in Darfur continues to be tense," said the Rev. Y.
Franklin Ishida, spokesperson, ELCA Division for Global Mission.  "It was
only several months ago that the world was looking at Darfur as a case of
genocide.  Now it seems to have been forgotten, but [the situation there]
continues to be just as bad," he said.
     "We need money for many of these and other silent emergencies,"
Deressa said.
     As of April 15 "we have raised about $8.5 million for tsunami
relief," she said.  A Dec. 26 tsunami claimed more than 200,000 lives in
several coastal countries of the Indian Ocean.
     Lutheran World Relief -- the overseas relief and development
organization working on behalf of the ELCA and the Lutheran
Church--Missouri Synod -- has raised $15 million for tsunami aid, Deressa
said.
     "We are grateful for the gifts for tsunami [aid], but we need to
remind people that ELCA International Disaster Response is also responding
to other emergencies that are often neglected.	As a church we cannot
afford to ignore but respond," Deressa said.
     Coordinated by the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International
Disaster Response often 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.
     In 2004 Lutherans contributed funds to support recovery efforts in
countries experiencing civil unrest, famine, natural disasters, post-war
rehabilitation, and refugee and displacement of people within their home
country.
- - -
INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:
Editors: When listing organizations receiving funds for aid to survivors
of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S.
Virgin Islands, please include:
ELCA International Disaster Response, PO Box 71764 Chicago, IL 60694-1764,
1-800-638-3522 and http://www.elca.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news