New Zealand Earthquake

February 2011

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The Situation:

On February 22, 2011 a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand and was followed on February 25 by two aftershocks registering at 4.4 and 3.3. Of the over 300 people who have been reported missing, 113 have been confirmed dead. Many of the buildings have either been totally leveled or labeled unsafe to enter. This has led to a huge lack of clean water and electricity in parts of the city. All of this comes in the midst of continued reconstruction after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck close to the city in September of last year; in that disaster, no one was killed but many of the buildings were weakened.

ELCA Response:

The ELCA has been keeping abreast of the situation through its partners in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) and the Lutheran Church of Australia, of which the LCNZ is a district. This time the main role played by the ELCA is giving support through prayer and solidarity, while waiting to see what other tangible means of support might be needed and can be offered. The ELCA is also keeping in close contact with its partner Church World Services, which had an office in Christchurch.

What you can do:

Pray:

Engage in prayer with Christians around the world for the calming and assuring presence of Christ to be felt by those who have been affected by the trauma of this earthquake. For some ideas of prayers you can use, check out the ELCA Worship resource on prayers for after earthquakes.

Study and Share:

Along with the secular media, please check back here and with the following organizations for updates.

Give:

Gifts to ELCA International Disaster Response provide immediate and effective support to communities which are in need. Please consider giving to support the needs of this response and others like it. To direct gifts to efforts of the Lutheran Church in Australia responding to the earthquake in New Zealand, please write “New Zealand Earthquake” in the memo line of your check. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.

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^{Photo Credits: (top right) ELCA/Communications 2/2011}