LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF PRESIDENT LEADS DELEGATION
TO TSUNAMI-AFFECTED COUNTRIES
Baltimore, October 18, 2005 — Lutheran World Relief president Kathryn Wolford is leading a delegation to India and Indonesia to learn firsthand the impact of LWR’s tsunami response to date and to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges for long term recovery and how LWR’s strategy will address these challenges.
Members of the delegation include Kirk Betts, vice chair of the LWR Board; Tim Schwan, vice president, church and community engagement, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans; Karin Hope, legislative director, Office of Rep. Jim Ramstad, MN (India only); and Lisa B. Bonds, LWR vice president for external relations.
The delegation departed the U.S. on Monday, October 10, and will return Saturday, October 22.
In India, the delegation visited affected communities in the area of Pondicherry, along the coast of South India, where LWR is working with two church organizations in disaster response and recovery. LWR has worked with these partners, UELCI (United Evangelical Lutheran Church of India) and CASA (Churches Auxiliary for Social Action), for many years, including training in disaster preparedness and response. With that preparation, they were able to begin providing aid hours after the tsunami struck. The delegation visited programs focusing on livelihoods such as fishing boats and nets, and psychosocial needs, and learned about issues related to land rights and their impact on reconstruction of housing and infrastructure.
Currently in Indonesia, the delegation will visit two affected areas, Banda Aceh at the northern tip of the island of Sumatra, and Meulaboh. The delegation will see projects focusing on the restoration of livelihoods such as farming and small businesses, water and sanitation, health care, housing reconstruction, and programs to address the trauma caused by the tsunami. LWR is working with three partner organizations in Indonesia: Yayasan Tanggul Bencana, a Christian relief and development organization; Yakkum Emergency Unit, a Christian organization focusing on community-based health care and disaster response and Church World Service, a colleague organization based in the US.
During the nine months that have passed since the tsunami struck, Lutheran World Relief supporters have shown their compassion and generosity by donating an unprecedented $18 million to our Wave of Giving™ campaign to help South Asia rebuild and recover. LWR is spending these resources wisely, responding to the crisis created by the tsunami in ways that address the underlying conditions of chronic poverty and exclusion in the affected communities, and to provide lasting change. LWR’s commitment to stay in the region up to 10 years sets it apart from many other agencies working in the region.
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.
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
