AFGHANISTAN/
CENTRAL ASIA AID
2001
Two decades of war, inter-ethnic conflict, severe drought and earthquakes destroyed Afghanistan's economic foundation. According to some reports by ACT International (the interchurch emergency alliance that includes LWR) more than 60% of the infrastructure is completely destroyed.
The United Nations World Food Program says five million people are in need of food aid due to these years of drought and war. Even before September 11, more than three million people depended on food aid for their survival, according to a survey by non-governmental organizations.
Following September 11, many thousands fled their homes to refugee camps in Pakistan and Iran. As these refugees return to their towns and villages, demands for basic social and human services has grown beyond the Afghan government's ability to respond.
LWR is working throughout Afghanistan with ACT to provide assistance to people in need of food and other aid.
Lutheran World Relief aid-to-date totals more than $1.4 million in material aid and cash grants (measured in dollar terms) assisting partner organizations in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran to provide:
- SUPPORT FOR WOMEN'S QUILTMAKING - $20,000 for this income-generating project;
- SELF-SUFFICIENCY TRAINING - for refugee women;
- VOCATIONAL TRAINING - for refugee women;
- FOOD, SHELTER, WATER AND BEDDING - for 23,000 families with plans to continue assisting isolated families;
- WATER SUPPLIES (portable tanks, piping, purification units and tankers) for up to 70,000 refugees in Pakistan;
- EMERGENCY SUPPLIES - a six-month supply of food, shelter and clothing for 10,000 internally displaced people in the region of Mazar-I-Sharif;
- 38,000 QUILTS for refugees; and,
- 8,000 LAYETTES, 13,000 SCHOOL AND HEALTH KITS along with clothes and soap for people in northern Afghanistan, two southern provinces and refugee camps.
LWR is planning continued assistance and requests financial contributions toward these efforts. LWR is a member of Action by Churches Together.
When disaster strikes, in addition to prayer, the greatest immediate need is cash so that our local partners can quickly and efficiently provide needed assistance.
When you make a gift to LWR, you help LWR to respond quickly to emergencies like this one in Afghanistan/Central Asia. At the same time, your gift to our ongoing development work with people and communities strengthens them and improves ability to survive and recover when disaster strikes.
To contribute to a recovery effort, you may also call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2, or mail a check or money order to:
Lutheran World Relief - Afghanistan/Central Asia
PO Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
Please also consider making an unrestricted donation which will enable LWR to respond quickly to the next emergency.
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