Today is World Humanitarian Day (WHD). This is a day that highlights the work of humanitarian aid organizations and workers all across the globe. Theirs are the hands and feet on the ground during times of disaster, both natural and man-made. They bring God’s hope to those most vulnerable.

On this day, we also highlight the 130 million people are living in crisis. The United Nations is pushing their Agenda for Humanity. In it, the Secretary-General is calling on global leaders to commit to 5 core responsibilities:

• End and Prevent Conflict
  • 80% of all humanitarian needs are driven by conflict
• Respect Rules of War
  • 90% of people killed or injured by explosive weapons in populated areas are civilians
• Leave No One Behind
• Work Differently to End Need
  • 43% of people live in fragile situations. By 2030 that number is estimated to climb to 62%.
• Invest in Humanity

General Secretary Ban Ki Moon said, “I call upon global leaders to place at the forefront of all policies, strategies and decision-making.” As church, we are called to love our neighbors and to bear each other’s burdens. It is said that this is how we fulfill Christ’s law.

At Churchwide Assembly, the rev. Dan Rift, talked about communities that are experiencing crisis often feel like they aren’t noticed. He said, “Struggling with the aftermath, long after the headlines change, they wonder, ‘are we remembered?’” Humanitarian Aid Organizations and Workers are there to remind those affected by these crises that they are not alone.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by disaster, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Your undesignated gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used where the need is greatest.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

• Visit our website at LDR.org
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter.

To learn more:

• World Humanitarina Day Website
• Visit the World Humanitarian Summit website
  • Chair’s Summary Report
• Report of the UN Secretary-General for the WHS
• Sustainable Development Goals

There is a very real crisis going on and it continues to go mostly unnoticed. Drought is impacting millions of people globally, with southern and eastern Africa the most heavily affected.

Many people are facing a multi-year drought, which has resulted in low crop production, rising food prices and household food insecurity. According to OCHA, the humanitarian impact of the drought has had effects that extend beyond food insecurity; increased levels of malnutrition and difficulty in accessing water have been reported as well as higher school drop-out rates, increased incidence of communicable diseases, child protection violations and rural to urban migration.

Through long standing relationships with companion churches and other trusted partners – we have hands and feet on the ground providing care, support and hope.

In southern Africa, through the Evangelical Lutheran Development Service, Lutheran Disaster Response is providing emergency aid in Malawi. Together, we are developing the capacity of households to become more disaster-resilient. Through the Malagasy Lutheran Church, we are providing immediate life-saving nutrition as well as livelihood support and psychosocial care, with an emphasis on reaching pregnant women, vulnerable children, people who are differently abled, and the elderly. In eastern Africa, areas most affected have been targeted with emergency response and cash-for-work programs. Together, these will help save lives and improve livelihoods, mitigating the effects of the drought.

Rev. Dan Rift said during the Lutheran Disaster Response report to the Churchwide Assembly, “we wonder aloud with our friends… Are we remembered?”

In leaving the assembly, will you remember our neighbors in Africa who are crying out for help. Will you tell a friend? Will you stand with us, our companion churches and partners as we accompany those most vulnerable and continue to bring God’s hope and healing to those who need it most.

Be a part of the response:

Pray
Continue to pray for the people affected by the drought, especially as they work to rebuild their lives. Pray for our companions and partners who are working alongside these communities.

Give
Your gifts are needed to bring lifesaving aid to those impacted by the drought. Gifts designated for “Africa Drought” will be used in full (100 percent) to assist those directly impacted until the response is complete. Gifts from people like you allow us to continue to accompany those in need.

Connect:
To learn more about the situation and the ELCA’s response:

• Share this bulletin insert with your congregation.
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Check the Lutheran Disaster Response blog.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook and follow @ELCALDR on Twitter.

For More Information:

• Until All are Fed
• Needs of the Afflicted: Drought in Ethiopia

In late June, a flash flood swept through West Virginia leaving 23 confirmed dead, large numbers of homes destroyed, and others without power. A little over one month later many are still in the relief stage, while others are beginning the early stages of long-term recovery.

In a recent update with Sherri Shafer, our Lutheran Disaster Response coordinator and Executive Director of Community Lutheran Partners (CLP) in West Virginia, we learned that CLP was able to purchase 4 tractor loads worth of furniture to be distributed once rebuilding begins. We also learned that, in an effort to get back to a normal life, some had started to put up new drywall in their homes before their homes had had a chance to dry out. In the wake of this news, Thanks to CLP and a great deal from Wagner Meters in Washington State, CLP is providing 30 professional quality moisture meters (5 of which were donated by Wagner Meters) to the disaster affected communities. The meters will be under the supervision of WV VOAD and will be tools of great value not only in this disaster but in future disasters.

Along with other efforts, CLP is supporting local emotional and spiritual care efforts by deploying Pastors to emotional and spiritual care sights in West Virginia. In response to a recent Facebook post by Lutheran Disaster Response, Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands, Pastor of Christ Lutheran in West Virginia, reflected on her experience at one of the sights:

… What I am able to tell you is that I have heard and seen stories of amazing resilience and hope; as well as heartache, deep grief and loss. Folks in the communities in these areas continue to work together; but the loss of homes, properties, businesses, livelihoods and for some the loss of loved ones is difficult. The recovery will not be a sprint, but one of long term recovery. Some of the folks I have met in this Center, do not have a safe place yet to stay…and if they are able to stay in their current homes, there is still not clean water or electricity in some parts of the area…mold is becoming a larger concern in many places… we are thankful to all who continue to reach out and help in many different ways through financial donations and volunteers…and I would encourage you to continue to pray for our folks here in West Virginia; and consider helping through Lutheran Disaster Response…in the months and even years ahead – there will be a need both financially and in terms of volunteering to help rebuild these communities. Many thanks for your continued prayers and support. – Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands

Lutheran Disaster Response is thankful for the dedication and the witness of Rev. Theobald-Rowlands. We are also thankful for Sherri Shaffer and our affiliate Community Lutheran Partners, Bishop Matthew Riegel and the West Virginia- West Maryland Synod, as well as, Dale and Jean Peercy, Lutheran Disaster Response’s Trainers/Consultants, various other partners, and last but not least, all of you. Thanks to your donations, we can continue to bring God’s hope and healing to those most vulnerable in West Virginia.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by the flooding, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Gifts to West Virginia Flooding designated under U.S. Flooding will be used to assist those directly impacted until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

• Use this bulletin insert to share within your networks.
• Visit our website at LDR.org
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter.

To learn more or sign up for volunteer opportunities:

• Log onto clp-online.org to download volunteer forms.
• Sign up through Volunteer WV https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/16Floods

Last week, a flash flood ravaged West Virginia, with at least 23 people confirmed dead, hundreds of homes severely damaged or destroyed and thousands of people left without power.  Due to the nature of flash floods, there was little time to prepare or escape. Thankfully, Camp Luther, in session during the onset, was able to evacuate over 350 children and staff and continue camp at a shelter site.

A post from Camp Luther’s Facebook page read:

Ladies and gentlemen, the Camp Luther staff aren’t likely to sing their own praises–so let me. Please consider the following: In the middle of a major disaster–one large enough to make the national news for 3 straight days–the Camp Luther staff was able to evacuate and move 350+ people over a mile in unfamiliar, flood-stricken territory and were not only able to keep everyone safe, fed, and sheltered but were also able to CONTINUE CAMP!

Think about that for a minute. There are many people who would’ve been hard-pressed to take care of just THEMSELVES under those conditions and the Camp Luther staff was able to pull it off with 270+ campers and 80+ staff coming from 50+ home congregations. That is incredible in my book! (read more)

We thank God for the dedication and of the camp staff and their efforts to keep the children fed, dry, and actively engaged in camp activities.

Lutheran Disaster Response is on the ground assisting those who have been affected by the flooding.  Our network, including our coordinators from West Virginia and neighboring Ohio, along with congregations, synods and  other disaster affiliate organizations, have come together to address the needs of survivors in the flooding in West Virginia. We know that the road to recovery is long. Over the coming months and years, we will walk alongside the people of West Virginia.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for the people affected by the flooding, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Gifts to West Virginia Flooding designated under U.S. Flooding will be used to assist those directly impacted until the response is complete.

Connect

To learn more about what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

• Use this bulletin insert to share within your networks.
• Visit our website at LDR.org
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter.

To learn more or sign up for volunteer opportunities:

• Log onto clp-online.org to download volunteer forms.
• Sign up through Volunteer WV https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/16Floods

Over 62 million persons have been displaced from their homes by violence, poverty, war, discrimination and marginalization, natural disaster and the effects of climate change. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has found that about 51% of refugees are children. These large numbers of children, along with high numbers of women and elderly, are even more vulnerable as they are more likely to experience to abuse, sexual violence, and neglect.

The situation of large-scale movements of migrants and refugees has become such a global concern that it has led the United Nations to call a high-level meeting of Member States on September 19, 2016. It will review the overall situation and consider, among other things, processes to lead to the development of new “global compacts” with respect to refugees on the one hand and to migrants on the other.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and

always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NIV)

Over and over again, God implores us to love our neighbors and bear their burdens. The refugee and other displaced persons are our neighbors. In 1 Corinthians, it says that love “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.”

Over the last three years, Lutheran Disaster Response has invested about 2.5 million dollars in various global migration causes. While Lutheran Disaster Response continues to bring God’s help, healing, and hope, the Global Mission unit of the ELCA has been asking how, as a unit, we can serve our neighbor more efficiently. We have made a commitment to use accompaniment values to build awareness around the issues facing the world’s displaced persons, especially children, women and families, and advocate domestically and internationally for their well-being and dignity.

Be a part of the response:

Pray

Continue to pray for displaced persons around the world, may God’s healing presence comfort them in their time of need.

Give

Your gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response will be used where there is the greatest need.

Connect

To learn more about global migration and what Lutheran Disaster Response is doing:

• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter.
• Visit our website at LDR.org
• Sign up to receive Lutheran Disaster Response alerts.

World Refugee Day

June 20, 2016

World Refugee Day is this Monday, June 20th. Lutheran Disaster Response will be taking this day, and all of next week to build awareness around global migration. ELCA Global Mission is already active in response to a number of critical refugee/ migration crises in the global and domestic context. We have relationships both within the ELCA and with global companions through which we provide humanitarian assistance, extend a welcome to the stranger and encourage those in power to work for peace with justice.

Follow along as we explore what is happening both domestically and internationally around global migration, how Lutheran Disaster Response has been involved over the last few years, and how you can be involved.

Follow Us for World Refugee Day:

• Visit our website at LDR.org
• Like Lutheran Disaster Response on Facebook.
• Follow us on Twitter.