ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 1, 2006
ELCA Distributes $800,000 for Tsunami Relief in India, Indonesia 06-030-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) distributed $800,000 this week to sustain its disaster response ministry in India and Indonesia following the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, which killed more than a quarter of a million people in East Africa and South Asia. The ELCA raised more than $11 million to support a five-year tsunami response plan.
Of the $800,000, Church World Service (CWS) received $300,000 to rebuild houses in Indonesia. CWS is a relief and development agency of U.S. Protestant and Orthodox churches. The ELCA participates in the work of CWS.
The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) received $300,000 to initiate "Jubilee Village" -- a program to build houses and livelihoods, particularly among the Dalit population, and assist community development programs.
Sent through Action by Churches Together (ACT), Yakkum Emergency Unit (YEU) in Indonesia received $200,000 from ELCA International Disaster Response. 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 Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
ELCA International Disaster Response "continues to provide financial support, accompany people and (participate in) relief work in India and Indonesia," said Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, ELCA Global Mission.
"Signs of mental distress and disturbance are widespread, and suicides in camps have been reported," said Deressa.
"Child survivors of the tsunami have experienced an emotionally painful event. They lost one or both parents and, in some cases, were separated from siblings or other family members. The shock of the event, sudden loss of their homes, distress of having routines disrupted and living in overcrowded, internally- displaced-person camps is taking a toll. Moving out of the relief phase and restoring livelihoods is the most immediate challenge," she said.
ELCA partners such as ACT, CWS, UELCI, YEU and others "continue to walk with people affected by the tsunami," said Deressa. "We are very grateful to members of the ELCA who generously contributed" toward tsunami relief. "We plan to use these funds for immediate assistance, rehabilitation and psycho- social programs," she added.
ELCA International Disaster Response, through ELCA Global Mission, developed a series of principles to guide its five-phase tsunami response plan. They include "walking with" survivors and communities to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen communities, supporting partner organizations and companion churches, and helping churches to be more prepared for future disasters.
The ELCA is in the second phase with a proposed $2.4 million expenditure. The phase also includes a $2 million grant to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) for Sri Lanka relief and rehabilitation, and $200,000 each to CWS and YEU for rebuilding in Indonesia. Proposals for another $1.8 million in projects are being considered by ELCA International Disaster Response. LWR, Baltimore, is an overseas relief and development ministry of the ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
About $1.37 million was distributed in "immediate relief" of phase one. - - - 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 ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog