Skip to content
ELCA Blogs

Lutheran Disaster Response

ELCA Blogs / Lutheran Disaster Response

Syria: And Still They Come; Dignity in Numbers

The situation in Syria continues to show up in our news. Usually it is a quick description of the conflict within the country or perhaps coverage of the geo-policital implications of these events for the region and the world. In the midst of these important, and often tragic, stories there is another narrative playing out involving Syrians looking for safety and resources, a journey which is increasingly taking many them across the border into neighboring countries. As the fighting within the country continues and intesifies this group is growing, rapidly.

So as I was reading through some reports on the refugee situation this past week I was struck by some of the numbers 700,000, 75 and 52. Initially they are just numbers, like any other scattering of statistics that help make up our news cycle. These numbers help give us context and help us as we work to determine appropriate response. What struck me was what do these numbers mean in the context of our call to respect human dignity in the course of our work. What are we to do with these three numbers and the situation they describe as we strive to accompany people in ways that respect their human dignity? And now the numbers.

700,000
Accorcding to a recent United Nations’ report the anticipated number of Syrian refugees by the end of this year has jumped from 100,000 (a number surpassed in July) to 700,000. This massive increase will put extra strains on Syria’s neighbors, who continue to keep their borders open to Syrians fleeing the violence. This strain will need a call for renewed commitment to keep the basic needs of human dignity in the forefront of any response. For our church this call will help in our partnership role through the Lutheran World Federation as it works to coordinate the Za’atri refugee camp in northern Jordan.

75
Part of the context of this work is that 75-percent of Syrian refugees are women and children. This means that many of those arriving in the camps are not only escaping violence and arriving with very little, they are also arriving as separated family units. In the midst of making sure children are getting enrolled in classes and families are getting proper nutrition and medical attention, responding through the matrix of human dignity also means creating space for the emotional and spiritual well-being of these new arrivals. As the Lutheran World Federation helps at Za’atri these are some of the concerns it brings to the work; to make sure the needs of both arriving refugees and host communities are being addressed.

52
In Za’atri one of the other realities is that 52-percent of arrivals are under 18 years old. Many arrive to the desert climate with very little in the means of heavy clothing, an unacceptable situation as they move towards the cold months of winter. Also with the rising numbers the need for educational and recreational space and activities increases. The Lutheran World Federation is working to provide winter-proofed tents and clothing for these children and their families as well as working to organize community-based groups within the camps to help them name and address their needs.

In the end these numbers help paint the picture of an evolving situation, one where the church is working to be vigilant and present in its calling to care for the least of these. And one where we work to make manifest the reality that all are created in the image of God and are to be treated with the dignity that image carries.

To learn more about where these numbers come from and the situation in general you can read the UNCHR and LWF reports.

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

New Resources: Horn of Africa One-Year Later

During the summer of last year major drought spread throughout the Horn of Africa, affecting countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. From the onset the ELCA has been helping in the response, providing cups of water and food to arriving refugees, working with communities to stave off illness and helping local populations leverage their knowledge to better prepare themselves for further disasters. This work has been made possible thanks to generous gifts from people like you.

As a way of marking this occassion and to help share about the good work we as this church are engaged in we share with you the following two Horn of Africa: One Year Later resources:

——
Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond locally and globally in times of need. Donate Now

Welcome from New Associate Program Director for Lutheran Disaster Response

Dear Friends,

Warm Greetings!

My name is Pastor Joseph Chu and it is with great joy and thanksgiving that I officially enter into the second week of my new position as the Associate Program Director for Lutheran Disaster Response. I want to thank Pr. Michael Stadie and all my colleagues at the Congregational and Synodical Mission Unit of the ELCA for their kindness and support as I become “oriented” to my new role of service.

Coincidentally, Hurricane Isaac landed at New Orleans around the same time I started my learning and orientation for this position three weeks ago. Since then, I have had the opportunity to be part of the conversations between our staff at the churchwide office and leaders of Social Ministry Organization affiliates and ELCA synods in the Gulf Coast states regarding our collective responses to the damages caused by Isaac. Through the process, I have found myself deeply touched and impressed by the dedication and knowledgeableness of each of the leaders in that area.

Dealing with Isaac reminds me of my experience with disaster responses over the years. In my first call as the pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in South Central Los Angeles between 1990 and 1993, we experienced one of the most disruptive civil unrests in this country in April 1992. In the aftermath of the unrest, Messiah Lutheran Church worked closely with neighboring ELCA congregations, the synod, local ELCA institutions, as well as community organizations to respond to the short-term and long-term needs of the community. It was a spirit-filled experience to work alongside members, volunteers and colleagues in providing immediate relief to those affected and implementing long-term programs designed to strengthen the community. The events of those days have helped shape me professionally and personally.

A decade later, between 2004 and 2009, I served as the program director for Asia and the Pacific for ELCA Global Mission, with a special focus on international development and relief in the region. In December 2004, a mega-earthquake and tsunami struck a number of south Asian countries, causing huge death tolls and unprecedented destruction across the region; the carnage in vulnerable communities of Indonesia and India was particularly tragic. Working collaboratively with ELCA colleagues, leaders of various faith-based institutions in the U.S. and companion church bodies and institutions across the Pacific Ocean, we provided immediate relief and implemented programs focused on sustainable, long-term recovery. The major purpose of these programs was disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Through both of these experiences I have found the stories of those who had lost their homes, processions and loved one haunting and unforgettable. But even more powerful is the sight of rebuilt villages and strengthened communities, like those that I visited towards the later stage of the recovery in India and Indonesia. Through it all, I have experienced the Spirit of God and the grace of God at work at every stage.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to serve the ELCA in this new capacity. In weeks and months ahead, I look forward to my continued education of our good work in domestic disaster response and how it fits into our common calling as followers of Christ. Thank You.

China: Earthquake in Yunnan and Guizhou Provinces

Emergency goods provided as part of CCC response.

On September 7 a 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook southwest China affecting people mainly in the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces. The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, which mixed with heavy rains led to mudslides and landslides along the mountain slopes. 81 people have been reported dead with nearly 750,000 people affected. Within the Christian community 29 churches were damaged, three of which completely collapsed.

The ELCA’s companion, China Christian Council, has been responding in the area. Immediately after the quakes they were in communication with the churches on the ground, collecting reports of damage and potential need, as well as passing on prayers of sympathy and solidarity. The response has involved visits to affected households, particularly those who lost loved ones, and emergency food aid of rice, oil and water to 465 households (2,323 individuals). The ELCA has committed $25,000 to help with this response.

As the response continues, please keep the people of the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in prayer. May God grant them peace of mind and the resources they need to engage in their recovery. Also, pray that those who respond within affected communities may have wisdom, patience and strength in the midst.

___________
Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond locally and globally in times of need. Donate now.

El Salvador: “Without Retaining Dikes, There is No Food”

The title of this post comes from an advocacy piece written by ELCA Missionary Stephen Deal entitled “Sin borda…no hay comida”. The phrase has become the rallying cry of communities who live along a 10 kilometer stretch of the Paz River in the southwest corner of El Salvador. These communities, including many Lutherans, have been affected by annual flooding, like that of last October where 10 days of torential rains led to heavy throughout Central America and especially along the Paz River.

Much of this flooding occurs due to the lack of a system of retaining dikes at key points along the Paz River – which serves as the border between El Salvador and Guatemala. The consequences are predictable and often tragic: destruction of crops, homes, roads, bridges, farm animals and even the loss of human life. To help lift up this issue the communties formed the Inter-Community Association for the Development of Southern Ahuachapan (ADICO) which has been adovacting Salvadorian authorities for these dikes since the massive flooding of Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Yet for the most part these pleas have fallen on deaf ears and efforts have fallen off.

After last years major flooding event the communities decided to redouble efforts with ADICO and have been blessed with positive results. The authorities were beginning to listen and actions were starting to take shape, like a dredging project to help mitigate some flooding. A great victory and step forward this action offers a short-term fix to a longer-term problem.

“We are tired of being treated as victims; tired of being the recipients of charity . . . we want to be listened to.” – Inter-Community Association for the Development of Southern Ahuachapan (ADICO) representative in El Salvador

The communities are continuing to advocate for a dike system or another alternative to bring a permanent, sustainable solution to the problem of flooding. The ELCA is helping in this important work of disaster risk reduction and preparedness, through generous gifts to our Disaster Response fund and continued relationships of support with our local companions as they work to fulfill the quote above, to move from victims and recipients to empowered citizens engaged in their own solutions.

I think Stephen sums it up best in the closing words of his article: “Thanks be to God for the dedication of ADICO and Lutheran church leaders as they work to bring a measure of peace and stability to the lives and livelihoods of everyone living in this part of El Salvador. Thanks be to God also for the opportunities we have to accompany them through our prayers, visits & offerings!”

Read Stephen’s Update No Borda…No Hay Comida

___________
Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond locally and globally in times of need. Donate now.

Hurricane Irene & Tropical Storm Lee: One Year Later

In late August and early September 2011 Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee hit the US east coast bringing strong winds and heavy rains. The storm systems came on back-to-back weekends (Irene on August 27-29 and Lee on September 3-5), causing many areas to be overrun with flooding. This was especially true in the northeast as Lee sat over the region from eastern Pennsylvania to New Jersey and Upstate New York dumping over a foot of rain on an already saturated area. Some rivers reached 17+ feet above flood level.

One year later, we look back on these disasters and remember those who were affected. It has been a long road with bright spots and bumps along the way. As a way of remembering these people and those who work on their behalf we would like to share with you updates from our affiliates who have being helping in the response.

New Jersey – Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey
In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irene and Lee, Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey – with a $30,000 grant from Lutheran Disaster Response – positioned a temporary disaster recovery coordinator to work primarily in northern New Jersey. Kathryn “Trink” Schwartz served out of Morris County from November 2011 to May 2012. One of Trink’s major roles was to bring county leaders together to create a functioning long-term recovery committee. The Morris County Disaster Recovery Committee has been active since the spring and continues to care for ongoing unmet needs in the area.

With additional support from LDR, LSM/NJ created 100 flood buckets. During a fall 2011 youth event, middle-school students from the New Jersey Synod assembled the buckets, which are now strategically placed in churches throughout the state for use in future disasters. In addition $16,000 in LDR unmet needs grants have been distributed.

Upstate New York – Upstate New York Synod
During the latter part of 2011 and continuing through 2012, the Lutheran Disaster Response team for the Upstate New York Synod had the opportunity to experience, first hand, how their Synod comes together when people are in need. Irene and Lee struck 33 counties within New York State. These areas have been declared federal disaster areas. Congregations and individuals across the Synod responded in many different ways. Congregations helped and still continue to assist by feeding, providing shelter and sending work teams to the affected areas. Over 200 flood buckets were assembled by various congregations in the Synod and were distributed to persons in the affected areas. The Synod’s LDR team sponsored long term recovery training for five communities across upstate New York in the fall of 2011.

The focus of the Synod has been the Schoharie County area. Mud and muck have been cleaned out of homes and businesses. Rebuilding has started and still continues. Through the collaborative efforts of many faith based organizations and Schoharie Area Long Term, Inc. (SALT) the needs of hundreds of individuals that were displaced by the disaster have been facilitated. National LDR provided $75,000 to support SALT and our local Leadership Team’s efforts in responding to initial needs and in the first year of long term recovery. Individuals and congregations across our Synod raised another $36,000 including a $5,000 challenge grant from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. These dollars enabled SALT to purchase construction material to aid in the rebuilding of five homes in Schoharie County. Additionally, dollars were provided to two Lutheran congregations whose buildings were significantly damaged by the storms and supported several work teams from congregations including a spring break high school team organized through the collaborative efforts of Vanderkamp (www.vk.org/), an outdoor ministry in Cleveland, NY and King of Kings Lutheran Church in Liverpool, NY.

The work is far from done. Volunteers continue to be needed in the Schoharie County area as well as other locations in NY. Learn about volunteer opportunities through SALT at www.saltrecovery.org/.

Southeastern Pennsylvania – Liberty Lutheran Services
Liberty Lutheran Services’ Lutheran Disaster Response in eastern Pennsylvania program has been engaged in southeastern Pennsylvania, including the city of Philadelphia, since the event happened. Early on, they took leadership for the VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) training teams in cleaning out houses safely. LDR-Eastern PA then organized groups, which included volunteers from Americorps, TzuChi, churches and individuals, to do the cleanouts. Once it came time to move to long term recovery, Liberty Lutheran Services helped form the Montgomery County Resource and Recovery Committee. LDR has been participating in case management, damage assessment, and repairs. Throughout the process the agency has helped scores of homeowners to clean out, rebuild, or simply come to peace with the flooding they experienced.

Northeastern Pennsylvania – Lutheran Congregational Services
10 of the 14 counties served by Lutheran Congregational Services in northeastern PA were declared Federal Disaster Areas following Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Over 100,000 people applied for FEMA assistance. Long Term Recovery Groups formed in Bradford, Susquehanna, Luzerne, Schuylkill, Wyoming and Berks Counties. Even now a year later some properties have not been touched and these groups are seeking volunteers to muck and gut alongside putting houses back together.

To offer your services contact: Dianne Fox, Volunteer Coordinator at dianne@lutherancongregationalservices.org or 610.428.4598.

—–
Gifts to ELCA Disaster Response allow the church to respond at home and globally in times of need. Donate now.