NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF

December 7, 2006

For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.

In this news release:

1. Lutheran World Relief Responds to Devastating Philippines Typhoon
2. Place Your LWR Fair Trade Holiday Orders Soon!

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Lutheran World Relief Responds to Devastating Philippines Typhoon

Baltimore, December 7, 2006 — On November 30, Typhoon Durian, the latest in a series of typhoons to hit the eastern Philippines, destroyed at least 66,000 homes and claimed the lives of hundreds of people, possibly over 1000, according to estimates.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) is responding to the situation with an immediate $15,000 contribution through the global network of church-related humanitarian organizations, Action by Churches Together (ACT). The money will be used to provide emergency assistance and address short-term rehabilitation needs for the affected communities.

The immediate response will include food, water purifiers, water containers, mosquito nets, blankets and sleeping mats, clothing, cooking utensils, medicine and hygiene. LWR’s local partners will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

Typhoon Durian tore through the islands with winds of up to 139 mph, blowing away small houses, uprooting trees and wiping out basic infrastructure including electricity and communication. Heavy rain from the typhoon has caused mudslides that have smothered dozens of villages.

On the slopes of the Mayon volcano, located 217 miles southeast of Manila, the rain mixed with volcanic ash, creating a thick brown sludge that swept down the mountainside after midnight, burying everything in its path and reaching the rooftops of the region’s small houses.

Rescue and retrieval operations are fully underway with workers from Southern Leyte, the Philippine Air Force, members of the Spanish Government Rescue team as well as mine workers working round the clock to recover survivors buried under the debris.

This year the Philippines has been battered by 18 typhoons, severely affecting the coping capacities of communities and support structures. Damage to property and agriculture from Durian alone is estimated to be over $5 million (US).

Place Your LWR Fair Trade Holiday Orders Soon!

Baltimore, December 7, 2006 — The deadline is fast approaching to order Fair Trade items from Lutheran World Relief and guarantee their arrival for Christmas.

Shipping deadlines are as follows:

LWR COFFEE PROJECT

To order Fair Trade coffee, tea, or cocoa for Christmas, All orders must be received by 5 pm Eastern Time on Friday, December 8, 2006 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Time of delivery varies by region and upgraded shipping is available; please call 774-776-7340 to determine if your order can still arrive by Christmas.

To place your LWR Coffee Project order, visit the webstore at www.lwr.org/coffee or call 774-776-7340.

LWR CHOCOLATE PROJECT & LWR HANDCRAFT PROJECT

1. Residents of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands must place orders by NOON Eastern on Thursday, December 14, 2006 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.
2. Residents of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas must place orders by NOON Eastern Time on Friday, December 15, 2006 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.
3. Residents of Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin must place orders by NOON Eastern Time on Monday, December 18, 2006 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.
4. Residents of Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia must place orders by NOON Eastern Time on Tuesday, December 19, 2006 for guaranteed delivery by Christmas.
5. Orders received after these dates and times MUST upgrade for Christmas delivery. Call 1-888-294-9660 for information on upgraded shipping costs and delivery dates.

To place your LWR Handcraft Project order, visit the online catalog at www.lwr.org/handcraft or call 1-888-294-9660.

To place your LWR Chocolate Project order, visit the webstore at www.lwr.org/chocolate or call 1-888-294-9660.

Please consider giving gifts that give thrice—to the recipient, to the producer, and to Lutheran World Relief! For more information on Lutheran World Relief’s Fair Trade Projects, visit www.lwr.org/fairtrade.

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.