CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to respond to "silent emergencies" around the world. Through the ELCA International Disaster Response, members of the church provided more than $1 million last year to support relief efforts following disasters, many of which have been long forgotten by the news media.
"Many emergencies such as civil war or famine are covered [in the news media] for a few days and then ignored as if the problem disappeared, yet recovery from civil war and famine takes years," wrote Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for international development and disaster response, ELCA Division for Global Mission, in an annual report.
"In an emergency situation, the primary objective is to save lives, alleviate suffering and provide food, medicine, shelter and clothing, as well as provide protection in war-like emergency situations," Deressa said.
Through ELCA International Disaster Response members of the church have sent $100,000 this month to support continuing relief efforts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where fighting between Rwandan military and DRC troops has caused thousands of people to flee their homes.
"In the past seven years, more than 3.7 million people have died because of the civil war. Now there is hope for peace, and international support is much needed for rehabilitation and people to return home," Deressa said.
Funds were sent to Action by Churches Together (ACT) for implementation by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies that meets human need through organized emergency response. It is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the LWF, both in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the LWF -- a 66-million-member global communion of 138 Lutheran churches in 77 countries -- and of the WCC.
Lutherans provided $100,000 last month to support ongoing humanitarian efforts in Sudan, where fighting and militia attacks have led to a massive displacement of people in various regions of the African country. Funds were sent to ACT for implementation by Norwegian Church Aid, which is working to meet the basic needs of people there, especially in the western region of Darfur.
"The situation in Darfur continues to be tense," said the Rev. Y. Franklin Ishida, spokesperson, ELCA Division for Global Mission. "It was only several months ago that the world was looking at Darfur as a case of genocide. Now it seems to have been forgotten, but [the situation there] continues to be just as bad," he said.
"We need money for many of these and other silent emergencies," Deressa said.
As of April 15 "we have raised about $8.5 million for tsunami relief," she said. A Dec. 26 tsunami claimed more than 200,000 lives in several coastal countries of the Indian Ocean.
Lutheran World Relief -- the overseas relief and development organization working on behalf of the ELCA and the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod -- has raised $15 million for tsunami aid, Deressa said.
"We are grateful for the gifts for tsunami [aid], but we need to remind people that ELCA International Disaster Response is also responding to other emergencies that are often neglected. As a church we cannot afford to ignore but respond," Deressa said.
Coordinated by the ELCA Division for Global Mission, International Disaster Response often channels its funds through international church organizations and relief agencies. Funds provide for food, medicine, drinking water, emergency shelter and other materials for survivors of disasters.
In 2004 Lutherans contributed funds to support recovery efforts in countries experiencing civil unrest, famine, natural disasters, post-war rehabilitation, and refugee and displacement of people within their home country.
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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 and http://www.elca.org/disaster/idrgive on the Internet.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
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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
