NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF

November 22, 2005

For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.

In this news release:

1. Situation Update: Pakistan Earthquake

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SITUATION UPDATE: PAKISTAN EARTHQUAKE

Baltimore, November 22, 2005 — Just two or three weeks remain before winter snow cuts off access to more than 200,000 survivors of the October 8 earthquake in Pakistan. United Nations officials warned on Monday of the risk of a second humanitarian disaster if these people in the high-altitude villages do not receive adequate shelter soon. Six weeks after the quake, aid workers are still encountering injured survivors who have not yet received medical care. Disease and hunger are also an ongoing challenge for this extraordinarily complex relief effort.

“More lives are at risk today than the 74,000 originally claimed by the earthquakes,” the UN statement said. “With winter fast approaching and life-saving resources scarce, tens of thousands of earthquake survivors face death, hunger and disease as well as prolonged displacement and homelessness.”

But there are hopeful signs. Lutheran World Relief is responding to the quake through the global aid alliance Action by Churches Together (ACT). The ACT response is being implemented by Church World Service. So far, LWR has donated $85,000 toward the relief effort. Some highlights from recent days:

• CWS-ACT has provided tents, mattresses, blankets, food, stoves and other non-food items, as well as water and health care necessary for hundreds of quake survivors outside Balakot, near the quake’s epicenter. Residents of this tent village will have the resources they need to survive the coming winter.
  
  
• Last week, 300 children in the tent village started school.
  
  
• 22 women in the village participated in the first of several psychosocial meetings, which give them an opportunity to discuss any issues or problems they are facing and involve them in making decisions regarding the camp, giving them a sense of control over their lives during a difficult time. CWS-ACT will hold psychosocial meetings with a different group of women each week.
  
  
• CWS-ACT is also working with its partner The Diocese of Raiwand to set up a field hospital in Rawalakot, to provide checkups and immediate treatment for outpatients; basic medical care for inpatients; referral services for patients requiring special care; rehabilitation facilities for patients who have lost or injured a limb; and a mobile clinic to provide immediate health care services from place to place.
  
  
• CWS-ACT distributed 150 food packets and 150 shelter kits to the most vulnerable survivors in Battagram, also near the epicenter, and began assessing further needs there.

“CWS has worked in Pakistan for more than 50 years,” said LWR president Kathryn Wolford. “I have every confidence that they are doing everything they can to reach the most vulnerable survivors and prevent a second disaster. It is absolutely imperative that we support their efforts to make sure that survivors have adequate shelter, food, and medical care. The intangible benefits of the psychosocial programs are also very important for people who are rebuilding their lives after such a traumatic experience.”

Or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2 or mail a donation to:

Lutheran World Relief
South Asia Earthquake
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.