News Briefs: March 23, 2006
LWF in Palestine
The Israeli Military Authorities have been dividing up the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and building a wall that has annexed much land and segregated the Palestinian population. Thus, the population cannot access much needed services and is restricted from movement to seek better employment, schooling and health, as well as the possibility of marketing their products. This situation is rampant all over the OPT but very acute as it relates to Jerusalem.
After the new Palestinian elections, Israel has deemed the election results as unacceptable and has stopped the funding of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is the main provider of civil services in the OPT. It runs directly, or through NGOs, the largest number of schools, hospitals, clinics, and many other social and civil services.
Through a contract with the Palestinian Authority, the Lutheran World Federation (LWF)-Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in Jerusalem was providing, on a monthly basis, about 1700 medical procedures for the Palestinians, such as dialysis, radiation, chemotherapy, endoscopy and head-neck treatments. The blockage of the funds will put in danger the lives of the patients who are currently under treatment as it is the only source of treatment they can access.
LWF/AVH has requested support from ACT (Action by Churches Together) to cover, for six months, the running costs (medications, supplies, clinical staff and transportation) that were covered by the PA. During this period they will have to find a sustainable solution or scale down the activities.
The Lutheran World Federation has been providing health care services to refugees and other Palestinians in the OPT for over fifty years through programs of the Augusta Victoria Hospital, serving patients regardless of race, gender, religious belief, nationality, ethnic origin or political persuasion.
—With reports from ACT International
CLWR Hosts Public Forum
On Sunday, April 2, Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR) will host a public forum on the topic of “Lutheran response to health care needs in Palestine—Augusta Victoria Hospital,” with special guest speaker Dr. Tawfiq Nasser, chief executive officer of the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in Jerusalem. The forum will be held at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Winnipeg at 7 p.m.
Dr. Nasser will provide an overview of the work of AVH within the context of Palestine today. A very articulate and engaging speaker, Dr. Nasser is a committed Christian, a member of the Anglican Communion, and a resident of Ramallah, and brings his first-hand perspective to the current situation in Palestine and the Middle East.
This will also be an opportunity to meet CLWR’s new executive director, Robert Granke.
—CLWR News Service
Flood Emergency in Indonesia
Torrential rainfall since February 13 triggered the overflow of Rano Wangko River on February 21, causing flash flooding and landslides in Manado City, the capital city of North Sulawesi Province. These events followed floods and landslides that hit Manado City, Minahasa Selatan, Minahasa, and Tomohon City on February 13, resulting in the displacement of 1,286 people. The Provincial Coordinating Unit for Disaster Management reports 33 deaths, six missing and 39 injured. The North Sulawesi Meteorological Office forecasts that the rainy season will last until June 2006, increasing the probability of further flooding and landslides.
ACT (Action by Churches Together) members in Indonesia responded immediately and sent in teams to asses the needs. Yayasan Tanggul Bencana di Indonesia (YTBI) plans to assist the villages of Lelema, Popontolen and Sulu in Tumpaan sub-district where 155 households are displaced and have lost their houses, possessions and livelihood. Ready-to-harvest rice fields were destroyed and livestock drowned. The displaced are sheltering in a local kindergarten and in four tents provided by the local social affairs office. These villages were chosen as they are the most severely affected by the flash floods and landslides; relief from the government and the surrounding communities is limited and insufficient to cover basic needs and YTBI has a capable local implementing partner, Christian Evangelical Church in Minahasa, to provide assistance.
Church World Service (CWS), Indonesia, plans to assist families in Borgo, Ranowangko, Lelema and Popontolen, Paal II and Dendengan Luar (a total of 1,295 households). CWS has chosen these villages as there were a large number of families severely affected by the floods/landslides. CWS will distribute food aid in the form of rice, oil, canned fish and water; non-food items—health kits and kitchen utensils; psychosocial support, hygiene and sanitation training; reconstruction assistance for health posts, schools and other facilities; disaster management and mitigation training.
—With Reports from ACT International
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