ELCA Distributes $800,000 for Tsunami Relief in India, Indonesia

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- International Disaster Response of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) distributed
$800,000 this week to sustain its disaster response ministry in
India and Indonesia following the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami, which
killed more than a quarter of a million people in East Africa and
South Asia. The ELCA raised more than $11 million to support a
five-year tsunami response plan.
Of the $800,000, Church World Service (CWS) received
$300,000 to rebuild houses in Indonesia. CWS is a relief and
development agency of U.S. Protestant and Orthodox churches. The
ELCA participates in the work of CWS.
The United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI)
received $300,000 to initiate "Jubilee Village" -- a program to
build houses and livelihoods, particularly among the Dalit
population, and assist community development programs.
Sent through Action by Churches Together (ACT), Yakkum
Emergency Unit (YEU) in Indonesia received $200,000 from ELCA
International Disaster Response. 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 Lutheran World Federation (LWF), both
in Geneva, Switzerland. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and LWF.
ELCA International Disaster Response "continues to provide
financial support, accompany people and (participate in) relief
work in India and Indonesia," said Dr. Belletech Deressa,
director for international development and disaster response,
ELCA Global Mission.
"Signs of mental distress and disturbance are widespread,
and suicides in camps have been reported," said Deressa.
"Child survivors of the tsunami have experienced an
emotionally painful event. They lost one or both parents and, in
some cases, were separated from siblings or other family members.
The shock of the event, sudden loss of their homes, distress of
having routines disrupted and living in overcrowded, internally-
displaced-person camps is taking a toll. Moving out of the
relief phase and restoring livelihoods is the most immediate
challenge," she said.
ELCA partners such as ACT, CWS, UELCI, YEU and others
"continue to walk with people affected by the tsunami," said
Deressa. "We are very grateful to members of the ELCA who
generously contributed" toward tsunami relief. "We plan to use
these funds for immediate assistance, rehabilitation and psycho-
social programs," she added.
ELCA International Disaster Response, through ELCA Global
Mission, developed a series of principles to guide its five-phase
tsunami response plan. They include "walking with" survivors and
communities to rebuild livelihoods and strengthen communities,
supporting partner organizations and companion churches, and
helping churches to be more prepared for future disasters.
The ELCA is in the second phase with a proposed $2.4 million
expenditure. The phase also includes a $2 million grant to
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) for Sri Lanka relief and
rehabilitation, and $200,000 each to CWS and YEU for rebuilding
in Indonesia. Proposals for another $1.8 million in projects are
being considered by ELCA International Disaster Response. LWR,
Baltimore, is an overseas relief and development ministry of the
ELCA and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
About $1.37 million was distributed in "immediate relief" of
phase one.
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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
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog