Funds will support recovery and rehabilitation in the Philippines
Baltimore, June 9, 2014 – Lutheran World Relief (LWR) and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) announced today that the ELCA has provided an additional $1 million toward LWR’s response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. This gift, made through ELCA’s Lutheran Disaster Response, follows a $1 million donation from the ELCA in November 2013, doubling the ELCA’s support of LWR’s typhoon response.
“We are deeply committed to positively impacting the lives of people and communities,” said the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, executive director for ELCA Global Mission. “The additional gift of $1 million will assist Lutheran World Relief in concentrating its efforts to supporting and developing livelihood opportunities for people in the fishing industry, seaweed farming and in other areas. Through Lutheran World Relief, the ELCA is deepening and extending its reach in touching people’s lives.”
Typhoon Haiyan, which made landfall November 8, 2013, was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines last year and one of the strongest ever to make landfall anywhere. In total, the storm affected more than 14 million people, including displacing approximately 4 million people. Typhoon Haiyan resulted in the death of more than 6,200 people, and more than 1,000 others remain missing. Additionally, the storm damaged or destroyed approximately 1 million houses.
With generous support from the ELCA and other partners, LWR has been working since the storm hit to repair and rebuild damaged houses; provide opportunities for income through cash-for-work programs; distribute Quilts, Kits and other relief items; train other responding agencies on international quality and accountability standards; and ensure access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and has reached nearly 135,000 people. A comprehensive six-month report of LWR’s relief activities is available at lwr.org/haiyan.
The ELCA’s additional gift will help make a lasting impact in the Philippines, giving LWR significant additional resources to support the rehabilitation of livelihoods damaged or destroyed by the storm, helping those affected by Haiyan to provide for themselves and their families in the long term while also being better prepared for future disasters that may strike.
“In a disaster of this magnitude, we know that the response and recovery effort is not a matter of weeks or months, but years,” said Jeff Whisenant, LWR’s interim president and CEO. “We appreciate the confidence that the ELCA’s $2 million investment in LWR’s programming demonstrates in our work with partners, supporters and technical assistance providers in the Philippines and around the world to strengthen communities to achieve lasting results. With profound gratitude, we thank our partner the ELCA for recognizing the ongoing need and providing additional resources to allow us to reach even more people.”
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief works to improve the lives of smallholder farmers and people experiencing poverty in Africa, Asia and Latin America, both in times of emergencies and for the long term. With the financial support of US Lutherans and other donors, LWR strengthens communities through programs in agriculture, climate, and emergency support. LWR works with partners, supporters and technical assistance providers to achieve lasting results. For more information, visit lwr.org.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of U.S. Lutherans, serving communities living in poverty overseas.
