The Voice of Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Linda

While the world's attention has been riveted on the military conflict in Iraq, a crisis of enormous human proportions in southern and eastern Africa continues, all but unnoticed.

More than 30 million people are struggling against starvation in the midst of failed harvests. Famine will continue through 2003, cutting a swath through Africa that affects more than a dozen countries. Drought and erratic rains, coupled with civil strife and government polices in some areas, have contributed to this food crisis along with a less-than-adequate response from the international community.

In many areas, livestock are dying and people are eating anything available to stave off hunger. Malnutrition is rising, especially among children, and people are on the move, searching for food and work. The heavy toll of HIV/AIDS on breadwinners is making the crisis worse, particularly in southern Africa.

The ELCA, together with its partners, Lutheran World Relief and the Lutheran World Federation, is helping through Action by Churches Together (ACT), an international disaster-response coalition. Coalition partners are providing food, livestock, seeds, tools, and medicines for a half million people in Ethiopia; food and clean water for 140,000 people in Eritrea; drought-tolerant seeds for farmers and food rations for 11,000 families and 17,000 malnourished children in Malawi.

Since last year, the ELCA has sent $205,000 through ACT to be used by the Lutheran World Federation and companion churches in Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, which are on the front lines, helping people at risk of starvation. And when the drought ends, the ELCA will work with local partners to provide the animals and supplies survivors need to rebuild their lives and the longer term development assistance that can pre-empt famine when the next drought hits.

Your help is needed! Please pray for brothers and sister in Africa who are at risk of starvation. And please give generously. A little money goes a long way--$20-30 helps feed a child for a month. 100% of gifts designated to specific disasters are used for that purpose.

You may give through Calvary by placing your contribution in an offering envelope marked - Famine in Africa - or you may send your contribution directly to ELCA Domestic Disaster Response, P.O. Box 71764, Chicago, IL 60694-1764.

Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Linda

The Voice of Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Linda

Disaster Alert! 30 Million At Risk of Starvation In Africa ELCA International Disaster Response