BALTIMORE—The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the nation’s largest Lutheran body, has donated more than $250,000 to support Lutheran World Relief-IMA’s humanitarian outreach to families arriving in Peru who are fleeing the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Venezuela.
The crisis driving the migration from Venezuela is showing no signs of abating. According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 4.3 million Venezuelans have migrated over the past two years, with at least 800,000 seeking refuge in Peru. Lutheran World Relief-IMA has been working at the Peru-Ecuador border and in Lima to assist arriving migrant families with basic services to help them resettle.
The gift from the ELCA will enable Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health to expand our response to the humanitarian crisis by assisting Venezuelans in Peru with food and non-food items, basic health care services, linkages to updated immigration information, job training and funds for small businesses, along with spiritual accompaniment. In addition, the ELCA provided an additional gift to help cover the cost of freight to ship mission quilts made by Lutheran volunteers to those in need around the world.
“We are so grateful for your on-going partnership in bringing God’s hope, healing and renewal to people whose lives have been disrupted by disasters as well as providing on-going assistance to those in need around the world,” said Ambassador Daniel Speckhard, president of Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health. “Thank you for allowing us to be servants of the ELCA in their work in the world.”
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About Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health:
Lutheran World Relief and IMA World Health have joined forces to increase our impact on breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting healthier families and communities. The two international humanitarian nonprofits are integrating IMA World Health's global health expertise and Lutheran World Relief’s work in rural economies and emergency response, creating a unified organization that will help millions more enjoy a healthier, more prosperous tomorrow.