Title: Lutherans Support Cyclone-Relief Efforts in Madagascar ELCA NEWS SERVICE
August 17, 2007
Lutherans Support Cyclone-Relief Efforts in Madagascar 07-143-MRC
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Six cyclones have struck Madagascar since December 2006, leaving homes damaged and food supplies sparse. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has provided $25,000 in August to support recovery efforts there.
"This is the first time that Madagascar has been struck by so many cyclones in such a short period of time," said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, spokesperson for ELCA Global Mission.
Cyclone Bondo made landfall on Dec. 25, 2006, Cyclone Clovis on Jan. 3, 2007, Cyclone Favio on Jan. 18, Cyclone Gamede on Feb. 26, Cyclone Indlala on March 15 and Cyclone Jaya on April 3. Madagascar is an island in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa.
"Seasonal rains have been made worse by the Intertropical Convergence Zone, which is moving slightly south. The continuous rainfall has now produced floods," Ishida said.
People living in the rural areas of Madagascar were not able to have their staple food of rice after the series of cyclones. Grain storage has been flooded and fruit trees are damaged, reported Ishida.
Strong winds blew away roofs and huts along the eastern coast, leaving many families homeless. Schools, hospitals and other buildings were damaged. Families rendered homeless "do not wait for external support to rebuild their huts. Some reconstruction kits, such as tools and other building materials, need to be distributed to allow for the repair of homes and other buildings," said Ishida.
The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar -- a member of Action by Churches Together (ACT) -- has issued an appeal for funds to support the distribution of food and non-food recovery items and the rehabilitation of schools. ELCA funds were sent to ACT for implementation by the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar.
ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergency situations worldwide. 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.
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