wfn.org | Lutherans Help Provide Emergency Assistance in Bangladesh

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

November 22, 2000

LUTHERANS HELP PROVIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN BANGLADESH
00-288-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA) contributed $60,000 to the church's International
Disaster Response fund to provide emergency assistance to people in
Bangladesh, after months of high-speed winds and flood waters caused
destruction in the northwestern, western and southern parts of the
country.
     More than 30 people have died, several hundred are injured and
thousands more are homeless.  Thousands of others have been forced to
move to safer places, said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, director for
international communication, ELCA Division for Global Mission.  Standing
crops, houses, educational institutions, road and embankments have been
damaged, he added.
     "At present people need food, shelter, winter clothing and medical
assistance.  After the crisis phase, people will need housing,
agriculture assistance and income generating projects," Ishida said.
     "The main goal is to alleviate the suffering of the most
vulnerable, flood-affected families by providing life sustaining
necessities.  Intended target groups for care include the very poor, the
destitute, women and widows who are not able to recover from the loss of
whatever little they possessed," he said.
     Church-related organizations, including Lutheran World
Federation's (LWF) Rangpur Ninajpur Service and the Church of Bangladesh
Social Development Programmes, are addressing the needs of people in
Bangladesh.  These organizations are members 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 LWF in Switzerland.  The
ELCA is a member of both the WCC and LWF.
  The funds sent by the ELCA will help support relief efforts
coordinated through ACT.  The ELCA International Disaster Response sent
$25,000 to LWF's Rangpur Ninajpur Rural Service; $25,000 to the Church
of Bangladesh Social Development Programmes and KOINONIA; and $10,000 to
Lutheran Health Care Bangladesh, a mission outreach of the ELCA
operating in southern rural Bangladesh.  It serves 100,000 people in the
area of Dumki in the Patuakhali District.
  Members of the ELCA contribute funds to the church's International
Disaster Response fund.  Coordinated through the ELCA Division for
Global Mission, International Disaster Response helps relief agencies
provide funds for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and
other materials and supplies.  Funds are also used to rebuild
communities and to repair structures destroyed by major disasters.
-- -- --
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

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