CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA) provided $50,000 to support humanitarian
efforts in Darfur, Sudan, and $50,000 to support continued
earthquake recovery in Peru through the church's International
Disaster Response on Jan. 17.
"The civil war in Darfur continues to be a major
humanitarian crisis," said Dr. Belletech Deressa, director for
international development and disaster response, ELCA Global
Mission.
"The humanitarian situation deteriorated further in 2007
with increasing numbers of people displaced from their homes and
unable to return. The security situation has also worsened,
narrowing the humanitarian space and access by nongovernmental
organizations and the United Nations to those affected by the
conflict. With the crisis entering its fifth year, Darfur has
become a protracted emergency with a need to focus on provision
not only of life-saving services but also on short- to medium-
term livelihood solutions for those who are still unable to
return home safely," she said.
ELCA funds were sent to the Darfur Emergency Response
Operation -- a consortium of secular, Protestant and Catholic
partners -- to help survivors of the civil war, particularly in
south and west Darfur, said Deressa. Action by Churches Together
(ACT) formed the consortium. ACT is a global alliance of
churches and related agencies working to save lives and support
communities in emergency situations worldwide. It is based with
the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) in Geneva. The ELCA is a member of the WCC and
LWF.
There is tremendous financial need in Darfur, and income is
low for International Disaster Response, said Deressa. "As we
pray for peace and stability in Darfur, I wish to express the
financial challenge we face in responding to international
disasters," she said.
Coordinated by ELCA Global Mission, International Disaster
Response 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 August 2007 an earthquake hit Peru, killing more than 550
people. Houses, schools and hospitals were destroyed. Initially
the ELCA sent $38,773 to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru
to support relief work among survivors of the earthquake.
With an office in Peru, Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is
engaged in rehabilitation work by providing mental health
counseling to 1,200 people and constructing temporary housing for
200 families. The ELCA sent $50,000 to LWR to support this work.
Based in Baltimore, LWR is a ministry of the ELCA, the
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, individuals and parish groups in
international relief, development, advocacy and social
responsibility.
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
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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
