ELCA responds to the needs of Syrian refugees in Jordan

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
provided $100,000 to support the needs of people at the Za’atri refugee
camp in Jordan. More than 50 percent of the refugees there are below the
age of 18.
      The funds were sent to The Lutheran World Federation, which is
managing camp operations. The conflict in Syria has displaced about 2.5
million people, many of whom have taken refuge at Za’atri.
     Winter conditions across the region “led to a disaster on top of a
disaster for the people in the camp,” said the Rev. Robert Smith, program
director for the Middle East and North Africa, ELCA churchwide
ministries. “When we saw the specific reporting of how children, the most
vulnerable among the vulnerable, were impacted by the storms, we felt it
necessary to respond quickly.”
      The Lutheran World Federation is helping to manage the camp in
cooperation with Jordanian authorities, said Smith. The federation is a
global communion of 143 member churches in 79 countries worldwide. The
ELCA is the communion’s only member church from the United States.
      “The ELCA has been a strong funder, and we continue to make
additional contributions to support relief efforts. The United Nations
and UNICEF have indicated that international appeals have not raised
sufficient funds, so the ELCA is working to respond to this very
vulnerable (refugee) population,” said Smith.
      “We pray that the fighting will stop in Syria, and people can
return home. We’re trying to do what we can to support leaders who are
working to bring a peaceful solution in Syria,” he said.
      Along with the federation, the ELCA is working in partnership with
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land. In 2012, the
ELCA contributed $450,000 to help meet the needs of people impacted by
the conflict in Syria. Funds are used to purchase and distribute food and
personal items, such as hygiene kits, household items, bedding and
clothing. Special care and training in nutritional support for mothers is
also being made available.
      Information about ELCA Disaster Response is available at
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United
States, with more than 4 million members in nearly 10,000 congregations
across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church
of “God's work. Our hands,” the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God
through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the
world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church
reformer, Martin Luther.

For information contact:
Melissa Ramirez Cooper
773-380-2956 or Melissa.RamirezCooper@ELCA.org
http://www.ELCA.org/news
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