wfn.org | Lutherans Contribute to Relief Efforts in Indonesia

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

September 29, 2000

LUTHERANS CONTRIBUTE TO RELIEF EFFORTS IN INDONESIA
00-225-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $18,000 this
month to support relief efforts in Indonesia after a series of sectarian
clashes between Christians and Muslims.  Riots there have caused
thousands of residents to flee their homes.
     Violence in Ambon has prevailed since January 1999, according to
the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for international communication,
ELCA Division for Global Mission.  Ambon is the capital of the Maluku
Islands in central Indonesia.
     Outbreaks of violence spread throughout the Maluku Islands in July
1999.  In May 2000, the conflict continued to increase "after the
landing of Muslim Jihad troops from Java and South Sulawesi.  The most
recent conflict on Ambon, June 21, resulted in a large number of people
becoming displaced," Ishida said.
     "Houses, shops and other properties have been destroyed in riots.
The elderly, women and children have fled to the relative security of
the mountains.  Thousands of terrified residents have also fled riot-torn 
cities by boat, after their neighborhoods were destroyed by fire.
The flow of refugees continues," Ishida said.
     It has been estimated that 60,000 residents have been displaced in
the Christian areas of Indonesia, but the exact number of new displaced
persons is difficult to determine, he said.
     The funds sent by the ELCA will help support the relief efforts of
Action by Churches Together (ACT), a worldwide network of churches and
related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency
response.  ACT is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and
Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Geneva, Switzerland.  The ELCA is a
member of both the WCC and LWF.
     "The main goal is to alleviate the suffering of people, especially
the most vulnerable -- children, women and the elderly," said Ishida.
Relief assistance will "also be used as an entry point for grassroots
violence reduction and reconciliation," he said.
     Food, shelter and medicine will be provided over a three-month
period for 20,000 displaced people in Christian camps and 15 Muslim
camps, Ishida said.  A "mobile health team" will care for 10,000
patients and a "health post" will serve 27 camps.
     The rainy season will affect the health conditions of the
displaced people, Ishida said.  "People sleep on plaited mats with mud
and water leaking everywhere.  Piles of waste are growing.  Hygiene is
nonexistent."  Rooms are overcrowded and resources  such as soap and
toothpaste are scarce, he said.
     "In spite of a declared state of emergency and pleas by the
international community, fresh outbreaks of violence in Indonesia
continue and the situation may get worse," Ishida said.

-- -- --
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
                       PO Box 17061
                 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

                       1-800-LWR-LWR2

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html