A Lutheran Team Effort Aids Typhoon Victims in the Philippines

BALTIMORE, Feb. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lutheran World Relief is expanding its relief effort to help families in the Philippines recover from last month's powerful typhoon thanks to a $50,000 gift from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

The ELCA gift will enable LWR to significantly expand its emergency response on the island of Mindanao, reaching an additional 1,500 families, in addition to the 3,000 who have already received support, by issuing cash vouchers. Distributing cash as a community works to recover from a disaster is an effective means of support, as each family can purchase what they determine they need most, such as food, medicine, school supplies, or other needs.

LWR's emergency response is centered on the city of Marawi, where a five-month siege last year by an Islamic State-affiliated rebel group displaced thousands of residents from their homes. Residents were still struggling to recover when Typhoon Tembin struck three days before Christmas. The storm killed nearly 200 people, damaged more than 7,000 houses and caused major losses to the agricultural sector.

LWR President Daniel Speckhard expressed his thanks for this support to the ELCA, which continues a longstanding collaboration in helping to move some of the world's poorest and most isolated communities from survival to sustainability.

"Our partnership with the ELCA will significantly expand our ability to address the urgent humanitarian needs in the Philippines," he said. "We would like to offer our heartfelt thanks for being partners in this important mission."

The ELCA is the largest Lutheran church body and one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with more than 3.5 million members in more than 9,200 congregations across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region.

About Lutheran World Relief LWR is an international NGO with nearly 75 years of demonstrated expertise that works in partnership with local communities to build their capabilities and collaborate on long-term solutions to reduce extreme poverty. In times of emergency, LWR is also a trusted partner to distribute aid and ensure people are prepared to withstand the next unexpected challenge. For more information, visit lwr.org.

Media Contact 
John Rivera, Lutheran World Relief
jrivera@lwr.org, 443-604-2918

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SOURCE Lutheran World Relief