Title: Lutherans Respond to the Risk of Famine in East Africa ELCA NEWS SERVICE
March 24, 2006
Lutherans Respond to the Risk of Famine in East Africa 06-044-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Drought conditions are leading to the risk of famine in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and other countries in East Africa. International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is responding to the potential risk with funds to help provide for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials. International Disaster Response is coordinated through ELCA Global Mission.
About 2 million people in Somalia, and 150,000 people in Djibouti are "in dire need of food assistance" according to a United Nations' report, said Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, ELCA Global Mission.
The Kenyan government reported that 3 million to 4 million people are now at risk of starvation in the north, northeast, west and coastal regions of Kenya, said Deressa. "The United Nations (reported) about 2 million people in east and southeast Ethiopia are now in need of urgent aid," she said.
Most of the people affected by drought conditions are agriculturalists and pastoralists, who base their livelihood on cattle and farm animals, Deressa said.
In response to an Action by Churches Together (ACT) appeal for funds, ELCA International Disaster Response provided $150,000 toward relief in Kenya, $100,000 for aid in Ethiopia, and $30,000 for aid in Tanzania. Once an appeal for funds to help meet the needs of people in Djibouti and Somalia has reached the ELCA churchwide office, "we will respond," said Deressa.
This year ELCA International Disaster Response provided a total of $250,000 to support the distribution of food and water in Kenya, said Deressa. In February Lutherans provided $100,000, she said.
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), Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
The LWF, Church World Service, Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ethiopian Evangelical (Lutheran) Church Mekane Yesus, Lutheran World Relief and the Christian Council of Churches are also responding to the crisis in East Africa, said Deressa. ELCA companions are providing for the immediate need of food and water for people and cattle, said Deressa.
The Borana people in the Oroma region of southern Ethiopia depend on their cattle, a major source of food and income, she said. "The wealth of a family is based on the number of cattle they own."
Deressa said local authorities report that more than half a million people in the Borana district are in urgent need of assistance, but the true extent of this need could (in actuality be) double.
"ELCA International Disaster Response will continue to respond to the situation by accompanying our companion churches and agencies that are (organizing) relief efforts. The needs continue to rise because of the drought, and the normal rainy season is still a few months away," she said.
"We ask you to remember in your prayers people who are facing this famine, farmers who are losing their only (source of) wealth, and children and women who go to bed hungry every day. We ask you to pray for rain and good weather," said Deressa. - - - 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