Click here to view a gallery of photos by ACT photographer Paul Jeffrey Arnice A. Ajawaila, a mental health staff person with ACT partner YAKKUM Emergency Unit (YEU), assisting children in “play and learn” activities in Tamiang-Aceh in February 2007. Photo credit: YEU-ACT International   Ida is among the refugee women who gather to do embroidery work at the barracks in Reusak village.  They began their work group with help from ACT member YTBI. Ida’s husband Sudiman, pictured below, also received help from YTBI.  To read their story, click here. Abdi R. Tarigan, ACT. 12-year-old Ramadhan, a tsunami survivor. After the tsunami, he withdrew from interacting with his friends and became afraid of meeting unknown people. Participating in children’s programs with ACT member Church World Service has helped his fears subside. Photo credit: Abdi R Tarigan, ACT International Click here to read about how LWR helps and how you can help in other places around the world.

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Emergency Alert
Updated 3/07

Background:

The nation’s response to the devastating tsunami that struck South Asia in December of 2004 was astounding. LWR received $20.4 million in donations to our Wave of Giving™ fund for South Asia. That amount will fully fund our long-term efforts to help communities recover from the disaster, while also addressing the conditions of chronic poverty that made them so vulnerable in the first place.

The generosity of the thousands of people who donated to Wave of Giving™ is having a profound effect on the lives of people half a world away. Now, more than two years later, you are helping people build and move into permanent homes, build schools and community centers, restore livelihoods, receive medical care and much more.

See www.waveofgiving.org for many inspiring stories of tsunami survivors and the most up-to-date information about LWR’s tsunami recovery efforts.

And please note: while Wave of Giving™ is fully funded, your donations to LWR’s general fund will help us respond quickly to the next emergency!

LWR AND PARTNERS ARE HELPING

Lutheran World Relief continues to work with partners in India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka to:

• Provide basic healthcare services
  
  
• Build permanent homes and protect land rights of women and other marginalized groups
  
  
• Restore and diversify livelihoods
  
  
• Ensure access to clean water
  
  
• Construct schools and community centers that can double as disaster shelters
  
  
• Train communities in disaster preparedness
  Provide psychosocial support and trauma counseling

MEDIA CONTACT: Emily Sollie, 410-230-2802, esollie@lwr.org

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.