CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Action by Churches Together (ACT) reports 3,500 casualties as a result of the May 30 earthquake in northeastern Afghanistan. The figure may rise as information becomes available from more remote villages.
The quake completely destroyed several of the 41 villages in the Badakshan Province, ACT reports. Shelter, food and clean water are priorities for ACT's work. Temperatures at night are below freezing.
Working through Norwegian Church Aid and local organizations, ACT carried out an initial survey and distributed 20,000 meals as well tents and blankets. ACT is a worldwide network of churches, including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through coordinated emergency response.
Heavy rain restricted rescue operations on May 31, ACT reports. Most roads are impassable. ACT hopes to purchase food locally and bring in tents and blankets from outside the area.
This earthquake hit approximately the same part of Afghanistan that was affected by a February quake. Relief work is underway in those areas through Norwegian Church Aid and Church World Service. These agencies will coordinate further assessments and relief operations for the victims of the most recent earthquake.
Lutheran World Federation is a communion of 124 Lutheran churches worldwide, including the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
