CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided $50,000 Oct. 25 to support people affected by the crisis in the Middle East.
"The vicious circle of killings and violence continues in Israel and the Palestinian territories," according to an Oct. 23 news release issued by Action by Churches Together (ACT). However, on Oct. 29 Israeli forces withdrew from Palestinian territories of Beit Jala and Bethlehem.
ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. It is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of both the WCC and LWF.
The funds sent by the ELCA will help support the relief efforts coordinated by ACT. 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 sent to rebuild communities and to repair structures destroyed by major disasters.
"As retaliation for the recent assassination of the Israeli Minister of Tourism Rehavam Zevi, Israeli forces launched a series of incursions into Ramallah, Beit Jala, Bethlehem and other towns across the Palestinian territories" beginning Oct. 18, the release stated.
"This has halted the Mideast peace efforts and the recently resumed peace negotiations between the two sides of the long-standing conflict, which continues to weaken the local Palestinian population," it said.
Recent killings have raised "the already high death toll since the start of the year-old intifada to 903 Palestinians and Israelis," stated the ACT release.
ACT members report that the local population in the affected towns of the West Bank have been entirely deprived of food and other basics in the last several days.
Life has come to a stand-still due to the siege, according to ACT.
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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:
ELCA International Disaster Response
PO Box 71764
Chicago, IL 60694-1764
1-800-638-3522
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For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.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
