Posted on 01/15/2010 8:54:37 PM PST by lightman
Lutheran World Federation Worker Describes Port-Au-Prince, Haiti
10-017-MRC/LWI
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- "It looks like a war zone," and "so far no real help is in sight," said Eric Celiz of the situation in earthquake-ravaged Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Celiz is a financial officer of the Caribbean/Haiti program of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) Department for World Service.
Celiz told Lutheran World Information (LWI) that streets in the Haitian capital were crowded with people fleeing their homes for fear of aftershocks that continued to rattle the earth, or whose homes have been destroyed. The magnitude of the catastrophe has left a shocked feeling of helplessness. People linger stunned before mounds of rubble with no genuine means of intervening. Others remain buried under the rubble and cry out for help, but the necessary equipment is lacking. "It is an enormous moral dilemma for everyone, including our staff," he said.
LWI is the LWF's information service. LWF is a global communion of 140 member churches in 79 countries, representing over 68.9 million Christians.
According to Sylvia Raulo, director of the LWF's Department for World Service Caribbean/Haiti program, between 60 and 80 percent of the buildings in Port-au-Prince have been destroyed or are uninhabitable. For the moment it appears that no country program staff have been injured, although one staff member of the program has not been accounted for, she said.
Raulo said the immediate priority is to assess the extent of damage and assistance required. The LWF's Department for World Service will work to set up temporary shelters for people who have lost everything.
Action by Churches Together (ACT) has begun providing extensive emergency assistance. A rapid response team has been dispatched to Haiti to assist local organizations in assessing the damage and the help that is needed. The LWF is participating in this effort. ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working together in disaster response and development. ACT and the LWF are based in Geneva. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a member of both.
The LWF's Department for World Service office in Haiti is intact and most staff members are well.
The director of the office, the Rev. Eberhard Hitzler, said, "When such a disaster strikes, everyone wants to help. As good as that may be, we must avoid a situation in which a multitude of organizations work in an uncoordinated manner," adding that it is important that relief efforts are coordinated locally with the Red Cross, United Nations agencies and other partners.
- - - Financial contributions to support relief efforts in Haiti can be made at http://www.ELCA.org/haitiearthquake or by calling 800-638-2522.
LWI News Online is at http://www.lutheranworld.org/News/Welcome.EN.html on the Web.
For information contact: John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news
Those who read the Religion Forum know that there are many serious problems with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; however, when it comes to disaster relief there is nothing better than the Lutheran Disaster Respose funds because 100% of every dollar given goes directly to the disaster victims.
ALL administrative expenses are covered through funds receive d through normal congregation offerings.
Ping.
There are many serious problems with all the churches, but in this situation it is well to ponder Mark 9:38-41.
Aye, and also Matthew 25:31-46.
Our women's Bible Study has been reading this book for the past few months, and along with being well-written and researched, it really brings the GOSPEL alive!
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