It has been almost one year to the day since what has been described by UN General Secretary as a “slow-motion tsunami” struck Pakistan. With heavy monsoon rains in mid-July 2010, bodies of water throughout the country began to overflow their banks leading to flooding that started in the north and wound its way southward causing a domino effect of floods lasting from July to September. In total an estimated 18 million people were affected by flooding, with 14 million needing humanitarian assistance.

As the work to help the Pakistani people rebuild their lives continues, this is a great resource to take stock of how things have progressed. I really appreciated the map explaining the progression of the flood as well as the timeline. Also of note are the amazing pictures that do more to tell the story than words sometimes can. Interspersed throughout you will find informative reports and heart-wrenching and -warming stories of those affected by the flooding and those who have dedicated themselves to the relief effort.

I recommend taking some time and giving the report, “Pakistan – One Year On“, a read.

————-
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which runs the Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya, recently extended one its three camps to allow for an greater intake of arriving Somalis fleeing the drought. This new extension of the Ifo camp is part of a two-step extension process that will allow for an additional 50,000 refugees to be housed in tents, instead of makeshift structures outside of the camp. Camp officials are grateful for the opportunity these extensions give to create a more secure environment for incoming refugees, where they can receive the services they need and are entitled to.

To learn more, read the LWF newsletter, Lutheran World Information, article.

————-
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.

In a news release from the World Council of Churches (WCC), the Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveist, WCC General Secretary, lamented the tragic events that have unfolded in his homeland of Norway. He called on the international community and the church worldwide to pray for the people of Norway, especially for the families of the nearly hundred people killed in the set of tragic attacks in the Oslo area.

Though the ELCA is not planning a specific response to this human-made disaster, we continue to be in solidarity with our partner in Norway, the Church of Norway (Lutheran), and continue to lift up prayers on their behalf as well as the rest of the Norwegian people. Also, as a member of the WCC we pray with and for Rev. Dr. Tveist in this trying time.

Please take a moment to read the full release where you will also find a link to helpful prayers at the bottom of the page.

This report from Lennart Hernander describes how the LWF goes about receiving new arrivals. Highlighted is the role of incentive workers, refugees employed by the camp. These individuals have an intimate knowledge of what it means to be a refugee, usually come from the same background as incoming refugees and have a strong knowledge of how the camps work. These gifts make them invaluable to creating and implementing the best possible arrival process for new arrivals.

—–

The largest group of LWF incentive workers is the Social Assessment Team. Once the newly arrived refugees have been received, they receive a ration card from the UNHCR. The most vulnerable persons such as pregnant women and persons with special needs come to the LWF for an assessment. The LWF social clerk carries out what is known as a “vulnerability assessment” of all new arrivals. Depending on the assessment, the refugees receive various Non-Food Items (NFI’s) and can also be referred to other agencies working in the camp, agencies with the necessary expertise e.g. medical partners. “When refugees come here they are all in a very vulnerable situation. It is our job to identify the most vulnerable,” explains one of the LWF incentive workers, Mohammed Duale Gure, who carries out assessments on a daily basis.
(more…)

After the March 11th earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan, which devestated the country, the four Lutheran churches in Japan came together to form Japan Lutheran Emergency Relief (JLER). The purpose of this umbrella organization has been to help coordinate the disaster response to help alleviate any gaps that exist and to eliminate the duplication of work. The ELCA been working closely with JLER as we continue to respond to the needs of the Japanese people affected by this disaster.

JLER has now released its first newsletter giving an overview of the initial phase of their response. This document is a collection of reports describing the work being done and personal stories of staff and volunteers. Take a moment to read through how your church and gifts are helping to support the good work of JLER.

JLER Newsletter (PDF) | JLER Website

————-
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.

This new report from Lennart Hernander, Lutheran World Federation Representative, Kenya/Djibouti Program, gives an up-to-date account of the situation in Kenya. It has some great data on how many new refugees are coming into the camps while reminding the reader of the context into which the come. Also, it gives good data on how the specifics of aid are being carried out, from food and water to security and registration.

Read the update

————-
Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response allow the church to respond globally in times of need. Donate now.