CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) provided an additional $150,000 Oct. 25 to support millions of people in Afghanistan who have fled their homes as a result of years of civil conflicts, natural disasters, poverty and United States air strikes there. The ELCA provided an initial $150,000 earlier this month.
"Afghans, the largest, single refugee group in the world, are still on the move," according to an Oct. 24 news release issued by Action by Churches Together (ACT), which has been responding to some of the humanitarian needs in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan.
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 ACT coordinates. 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.
For the last 24 years, Afghanistan has been hit hard by disasters of various kinds, such as an earthquake in 1998 and drought conditions in 2000, that have severely affected the lives and livelihood of the entire population directly or indirectly.
The already fragile food supply, as well as security for citizens and relief workers in Afghanistan, has worsened since the start of aggressive United States air-strikes there, stated the release.
The threat of retaliation for the destruction of the World Trade Center, New York, and attack on the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., on Sept. 11 has caused many Afghans to flee their country, and has made international humanitarian aid difficult.
"In addition, borders with Afghanistan have officially closed, hindering the activities of humanitarian agencies from reaching" internally-displaced people there, according to ACT. "The international humanitarian community in Pakistan is facing multiple obstacles in its attempt to provide emergency relief to new Afghan refugees," it said.
ACT members are working to provide emergency shelter, food and non-food commodities, emergency medical assistance, water, sanitation and assistance for Afghans to prepare for the winter season.
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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
