ELCA Members Provide $1 Million for Kosovo Relief

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) have contributed about $1.5 million to provide emergency assistance for Kosovar refugees.
"We are just delighted that our people have responded so generously," said Lita Brusick Johnson, director for the ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeals.
"Gifts from our members both helped the refugees from Kosovo to survive the immediate crisis and will help with the rebuilding of the Balkans. Even before the NATO bombing started and the exodus began, we worked with trusted partners 'on the ground' and we will continue this pattern in the coming months," she said.
"We are really excited about this outpouring of support from our people and hope that it continues, because this crisis is not going to go away and we will need to continue our support for years into the future," Johnson said.
The ELCA issued an appeal for funds to help confront the increasing humanitarian crisis with the conflict in and around Kosovo. The Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the ELCA, released a statement at the time the appeal was issued to the 5.2 million members of the church.
"Like most Americans, I have been distressed by the reports of the evolving crisis in the Balkans. The tragic suffering of the Kosovo Albanians, caused by armed attacks and other forms of violence -- including 'ethnic cleansing' -- conducted by Yugoslav security forces, compels the international community to respond," said Anderson.
Through Action by Churches Together (ACT), a total of $880,000 was distributed by Lutheran World Federation's (LWF) World Service and Norwegian Church Aid; $225,000 was given to Lutheran World Relief for shipment of supplies and medical assistance. ACT, a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response, is based with the LWF and the World Council of Churches (WCC) in Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the LWF and WCC.

The funds coordinated through ACT represent income generated from the ELCA appeal. Funds were being used for shelter, transportation, food, hygiene needs, psychological services for the refugees and their families, water and sanitation, and refugee camp management. Funds will now be directed to rehabilitation and reconstruction as Kosovar refugees return home.
The ELCA gave $100,000 to the Slovak Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Yugoslavia, a "companion" Lutheran church located in Novi Sad. Anderson delivered the $100,000 check this month to the Rev. Jan Valent, bishop of the Lutheran church in Yugoslavia. The funds will help the church reconstruct Novi Sad, one of the cities bombed heavily during the NATO air strikes.
Church-related agencies are now making plans to return to Kosovo to assist with rehabilitation and reconstruction. The Lutheran World Federation will help with rehabilitation and reconstruction projects; Norwegian Church Aid will distribute water and sanitation products, advocate for dialogue and human rights, and help with reconstruction efforts. The Macedonian Center for International Cooperation will distribute food and provide agricultural and institutional capacity-buildin= g with local non-government organizations. These projects will be coordinate= d=20 through ACT.
"Churches will have a key role to play in the enormous task of reconstruction, refugee repatriation and reconciliation which must begin immediately," says a June 11 statement issued by the Lutheran World Federation, World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches and World Alliance of Reformed Churches.
The ecumenical bodies called upon the churches, especially those of Europe and North America, "to respond actively and generously to this challenge in Kosovo and other Yugoslav Republics, in Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and among refugees who have sought asylum in their own countries."
"We thank God that the parties have finally reached an agreement to bring an end to the conflict, and for the efforts of the Secretary General of the United Nations and all others who have worked so tirelessly to achieve the result," the statement said.
The church bodies urged "the international community to give priority to rebuilding infrastructure, homes and economies throughout Yugoslavia, and take a comprehensive regional approach to reconstruction and reconciliation in order to create conditions for economic and political stability and peace throughout southeast Europe," said the statement.

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