wfn.org | ELCA Supports Relief Work in Liberia and Eritrea

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 10, 1999

ELCA SUPPORTS RELIEF WORK IN LIBERIA AND ERITREA
99-226-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA) has pledged $50,000 to support the work of Lutheran World
Federation's Department for World Service in war-torn Liberia.  Members
of the ELCA have also contributed $100,000 toward relief work in
Eritrea.
     Between 1989 and 1996, Liberia was ravaged by civil war, said the
Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international communication, ELCA
Division for Global Mission.  While the entire country was affected,
some parts were more afflicted with death and destruction.  More than
200,000 people died and nearly 2 million were displaced, Ishida said.
Buildings, land and homes across the country have been destroyed.
     Attempts at peace and disarmament began in November 1996 and
continued through February 1997.  With the installation of a newly-
elected government in August 1997 and displaced people returning to
their homes, Liberia is taking steps toward stability, Ishida said.
     Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Action by Churches Together
(ACT), the Lutheran Church of Liberia and others have proposed to
consolidate and build upon Liberia's plans for peace.  ACT, a worldwide
network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through
coordinated emergency response, is based with LWF and the World Council
of Churches (WCC) in Geneva, Switzerland.  The ELCA is a member of the
LWF and WCC.
     LWF, a global communion of 128 member churches in 70 countries
representing 58 million of the world's 61.5 million Lutherans, provided
emergency assistance for victims and survivors during the civil war.
     In the past eight years the work of LWF has covered eight of
Liberia's 13 counties.  More than 6 million people were assisted under
different emergency interventions, including large-scale general food
distribution and the construction and management of shelters for
displaced people.
     LWF will provide food for 172,250 people.  About 675 schools, with
a total of 168,750 students, teachers and support staff, will be
included in the food distribution.  Fourteen institutions including
hospitals, orphanages, leprosy and tuberculosis centers with 3,500
people (mainly women and children) will also receive food.
     Other items for distribution include school supplies, tools and
agricultural equipment.
     Relief agencies are providing resettlement and reintegration
assistance.  "This effort is specifically targeting returnees and
internally-displaced people who are resettling in rural communities,"
said Ishida.  As part of the reintegration process, workshops are being
held on trauma healing, reconciliation and conflict resolution.
     Five schools are scheduled for repair and five new schools are
under construction in rural areas, Ishida said.  "A total of 10 miles of
rural secondary roads with bridges are being rehabilitated, and 25 wells
and 30 family latrines are under construction," he said.
     About 50 war-affected young people and ex-combatants will receive
funds to attend technical training institutions that offer courses in
auto repair, basic electronics, carpentry and building construction.
     "While there continue to be security concerns and reports of
civilian harassment by government security personnel, continued
transition work toward a peaceful society is in progress," Ishida said.
     Ishida said contributions to ELCA International Disaster Response
will help with the transitional relief work in Liberia.
     Members of the ELCA have contributed $100,000 toward relief work
in Eritrea.  Fighting along the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia in
eastern Africa has left tens of thousands of people displaced since
1998.
     Fighting resumed recently along the border, causing people to be
uprooted from their homes and dependent on humanitarian aid until they
can be resettled back to their home areas and become productive and
self-sufficient again, said Ishida.  "Large numbers of people had no
time to take personal belongings for their daily needs and,
consequently, need assistance to restock these fundamental items," he
said.
     Eritrean Relief and Refugee Commission, a member of ACT, has been
supporting about 450,000 displaced people.  Working with the commission,
LWF World Service and Norwegian (Lutheran) Church Aid are part of local
efforts to provide family tents, blankets and sleeping mats, grass for
roof thatching and other items for displaced people.

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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:

Lutheran World Relief
Church Street Station
P.O. Box 6186
New York, NY 10277-1738
1-800-LWR-LWR-2

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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