NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
April 18, 2002
For more information contact Jonathan Frerichs at (410) 230-2802.
In this news release:
- U.S. Parish Gifts Reaching Palestinian Homes and Hospital: Extra Truck Joins Convoy
U.S. PARISH GIFTS REACHING PALESTINIAN HOMES AND HOSPITAL: EXTRA TRUCK JOINS CONVOY
Baltimore, April 18, 2002 -- The Lutheran World Federation distributed thousands of blankets, quilts, layettes and health kits in Tulkarem today, responding to an appeal from local civic groups in the besieged West Bank town. LWF will add an extra truck to a convoy heading for Nablus tomorrow, to bring more of the Lutheran World Relief supplies plus medicines for a hard-pressed hospital there.
"These items are greatly needed at this time and having them available has been a godsend," the LWF representative in Jerusalem, Craig Kippels, said of the aid, which comes from U.S. Lutheran parishes. "Nablus and Tulkarem have been very hard hit and are in great need of these supplies."
A similar convoy earlier this week reached the Bethlehem area, where a state of siege continues in the center of town. The pastor of Lutheran Christmas church there, Rev. Mitri Raheb, has been confined with his family in their damaged home for 16 days. He reported today that the Lutheran bishop of Jerusalem was finally able to bring food to his parish after 10 days of trying to get permission from the military authorities.
After nearly three weeks of intense conflict, aid workers and medical personnel are re-establishing contact with communities wherever curfews and military cordons are temporarily lifted or eased. LWF will need more supplies and medicines from LWR and a related inter-church medical consortium to help local communities in their relief and recovery efforts in the months ahead.
In recent months LWR has provided some $800,000 worth of aid for medical, relief, rehabilitation and vocational programs among Palestinians.
Click here for contribution information or to read LWR's Middle East Crisis Fact Sheet.
