wfn.org | U.S., Overseas Lutherans Work Together in Response to Southeast Asia Storms

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: U.S., Overseas Lutherans Work Together in Response to Southeast Asia Storms
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>October 2, 2009  

U.S., Overseas Lutherans Work Together in Response to Southeast Asia Storms
09-218-MRC

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
is working with its companion churches and institutions in Indonesia, the
Philippines, the Samoan Islands and other earthquake, typhoon-stricken
areas to respond to the needs of survivors.

Worship and prayer resources for congregations are available at
http://www.ELCA.org/worship on the ELCA Web site.

>Indonesia

Two earthquakes struck Indonesia Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, causing
widespread destruction. According to news reports, more than 1,100 people
have died. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.

To support the needs of survivors there, the ELCA sent an initial
$30,000 to the YAKKUM Emergency Unit -- an emergency response
organization in Indonesia. YAKKUM is a companion institution of the ELCA.

YAKKUM has deployed an emergency response team to assess the
situation and distribute emergency supplies such as blankets, tents and
hygiene kits. Medical care personnel have also been deployed.

The Protestant Christian Batak Church (Huria Kristen Batak
Protestan, HKBP), a companion church of the ELCA, is also assessing the
needs of people.

>Southeast Asia

The ELCA sent an initial $30,000 to Christian Aid, which is working
to meet the needs of people affected by Typhoon Ketsana and subsequent
storms in the Philippines.

By the morning of Sept. 30, Typhoon Ketsana (also known as "Ondoy"
in the Philippines) caused death and destruction in Southeast Asia,
particularly the Philippines and Vietnam.

"The ELCA continues to assess the situation (in these areas), caring
for companions and preparing response," said Megan E. Bradfield,
associate director for international development, ELCA Global Mission.

In the Philippines, the storms killed more than 240 people. Nearly 2
million people are affected and 375,000 have abandoned their homes as
floodwaters, produced by the storms, rose quickly. "There was very little
lead time for many to evacuate," Bradfield said. About 80 percent of
Manila was under water.

A new "super typhoon" is expected to strike the Philippines by Oct.
3.

Typhoon Ketsana continued on to Vietnam, striking the coast near the
city of Da Nang.  Church World Service (CWS) is assessing the needs of
people, particularly families in poor rural and urban areas of Vietnam.
The ELCA participates in the work of CWS, a U.S.-based ecumenical
organization.

>The Samoas

The ELCA is providing $20,000 to support the relief efforts of CWS
in the Samoas.

A sub-sea earthquake may be the cause of a tsunami that struck the
Samoan Islands Sept. 29. More than 100 people are confirmed dead in the
Independent State of Samoa, and lives were also lost in the neighboring
U.S. territory of American Samoa. Officials are expecting the death toll
to rise on the islands, once rescue workers reach outlying areas.

ELCA funds, coordinated by ELCA Global Mission, are given to
international church organizations and relief agencies to help meet the
emergency needs of survivors of disasters.

The ELCA, along with Christian Aid, CWS and YAKKUM, are members of
Action by Churches Together -- a global alliance of churches and related
agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergency
situations. It is based in Geneva with the Lutheran World Federation
(LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC). The ELCA is a member of
the LWF and WCC.

>---

>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-
764, 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