BALTIMORE, May 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- While the international
humanitarian community awaits greater access to cyclone affected areas of
Myanmar (Burma) and the estimated 1 million displaced citizens, Lutheran
World Relief (LWR) continues to work through local partners to respond to
this horrific natural disaster.
"Although getting aid into the region has been difficult," said LWR
president John Nunes, "it is imperative that we be prepared to increase our
response once greater access is granted."
LWR is providing relief to the region through our international
partners in the global aid alliance, Action by Churches Together (ACT)
International. While some of LWR's ACT partners attempt to gain greater
access to the country, others are already on the ground, preparing for the
arrival of aid shipments and emergency financial distributions to assist
the heavily damaged southern region.
A preliminary response in the coming days will aim to assist at least
10,000 families through water, shelter and cash for work programs. And in
the coming weeks, that effort will increase, utilizing LWR's experience
from the 2004 tsunami and our partner's expertise to provide short and
medium-term assistance.
"With the number of people dead and displaced in the region and the
enormous potential for disease and starvation, relief workers have very
little time to head off this health crisis," says Nunes. "We must assist
the people of Myanmar (Burma) as soon as possible."
Official reports indicate that over 60,000 people are dead or missing,
with as many as 1 million homeless. These numbers are likely to rise in the
coming days and weeks as the full extent of the damage is measured.
Survivors are in dire need of food, clean water, shelter, medicine and
other basic items. Your donations will help LWR provide much-needed relief
to the families affected by this tragedy.
LWR accepts donations online at lwr.org/giving; by phone at
1-800-597-5972; or by mail at P.O. Box 17061 Baltimore, MD 21298-9832, USA.
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.
SOURCE Lutheran World Relief
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Related links:
http://www.lwr.org
CONTACT:
Emily Sollie, +1-410-230-2802,
+1-443-220-3269, esollie@lwr.org; or Lisa Bonds, +1-443-722-2162,
lbonds@lwr.org, both of Lutheran World Relief
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