Lutherans Assist with Europe Flood Relief Efforts

ACT TO ASSIST FLOODED EUROPE

Parts of Central and Eastern Europe and the Caucasus were hit by extensive
flooding following
unusually heavy rainfalls in July.  Major damage and destruction occurred in
parts of Poland, the
Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, and Armenia.   Hundreds of thousands of
people were forced
to flee their homes in advance of rising flood waters, according to Action
by Churches Together
(ACT).  ACT has called for help to provide emergency relief for flood
victims including the
provision of safe drinking water, food, medicine, emergency shelter
materials, clothing and other
basic relief items.  ACT is a worldwide network of churches,
 including the Lutheran World Federation, meeting human need through
coordinated emergency
response.  Communications were disrupted, crops and property destroyed,
transportation
systems and roads made unusable, and water and sanitation infrastructure
extensively damaged,
ACT reports.  The floods have caused billions of dollars in damages.  ACT's
assistance focuses on
the short term emergency needs for drinking water, food, medicine, clothing,
cooking stoves, fuel,
blankets, disinfectants, clean-up materials, and hand hygiene materials.
Additional assistance has
been provided for evacuation of youth and children from flood zones,
provision of temporary
shelter for the displaced, repairs to drinking water systems and initial
clean-up from the flood
damages.  ACT targeted early assistance to areas of Poland, the Czech
Republic, Romania and
Armenia.  ACT has appealed for $1,760,000 and will continue to provide
targeted relief to flood
victims in Poland, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.  The Lutheran
World Federation is a
worldwide communion of 124 member churches, including the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in
America.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html