Philippines: A second contribution of $1 million to respond to Typhoon Haiyan
Megan Brandsrud Lutheran Disaster Response has provided a second installment of $1 million to Lutheran World Relief to continue Typhoon Haiyan recovery work in the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest recorded storms in history, struck the Philippines...
Afghanistan: Providing Immediate and Long-Term Assistance After Floods and Landslide
Megan Brandsrud During the last week in April and the early part of May, monsoon rains drenched northern Afghanistan, causing flash floods. On May 2, the continued heavy rains triggered a landslide and buried a village in Abi Barik,...
Valparaiso, Chile: Rebuilding After the Fire
Megan Brandsrud On April 12, a raging wildfire enveloped the city of Valparaiso, Chile. Narrow, hillside roads and the lack of water or fire hydrants made controlling and extinguishing the fire very difficult. Fifteen people died as a result...
South Sudan: What It Means to Run for Safety
Megan Brandsrud Since mid-December 2013, the world’s newest nation, South Sudan, has been the setting of a political crisis turned violent. According to a May 16, 2014, report from the United Nations, more than 1.3 million people have been...
Typhoon Haiyan: Recovery Work Continues Six Months Later
Megan Brandsrud Six months ago, Typhoon Haiyan (known locally as Yolanda) crashed into the Philippines. As one of the strongest storms in recorded history, it affected more than 14 million people and destroyed approximately 1 million homes. More than...
Disaster Relief Team Travels to New Jersey, Marks 50th Trip
Megan Brandsrud This week, 33 volunteers from St. Philip’s Disaster Relief Ministry of St. Philip’s Lutheran Church in Fridley, Minn., traveled to New Jersey to assist in Hurricane Sandy recovery projects. This trip marked St. Philip’s Disaster Relief Ministry’s 50th...