Tens of thousands of lives at risk with money for vital services set to run out in two to three months

Security under Review to Ensure Safety for Staff and Refugee Community

DADAAB, Kenya/GENEVA, 2 January 2012 (LWI) – Already heightened security details at the Dadaab refugee camps in northeastern Kenya are being reviewed following the fatal shootings of two leaders of the community peace and security teams (CPST) in less than a week. Organized by the refugees themselves, the CPST help to keep the camps safe for the more than 463,000 men, women and children mainly from Somalia.

DADAAB, Kenya/GENEVA, 14 September 2011 (LWI) – It’s the first day of a new term in Kenya and the dusty landscape around Dadaab is dotted with students in colorful uniforms making their way to school.

In Hagadera camp, The Lutheran World Federation (LWF), a member of the ACT Alliance, operates six schools where about 13,000 students are enrolled.

John Kaissa, an educator since 1990, is the LWF’s education coordinator. He has managed programs in Kakuma, Kenya, and Sudan, but admits the program here is tough.

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) continues to be actively engaged in Haiti, concentrating its efforts on a multiyear rebuilding effort there one year after a devastating earthquake struck. The church's efforts include meeting human needs by providing food, water, temporary shelter and medical supplies while focusing on longer-term efforts such as responding to housing needs, and providing educational and income-generating opportunities.

Members of the ELCA gave more than $12.6

LWF Nepal has been on the forefront of carrying out emergency response and disaster risk management in Nepal. We respond and support emergency situations arising from both natural and human made disasters. Our emergency operations include life-preserving and life-sustaining interventions related to food, shelter, water and sanitation, especially in acute phases. We were also one of the first organizations engaged in disaster preparedness. Our disaster risk management efforts

KIBUNGO, Eastern Rwanda/GENEVA, 8 April 2008 (LWI) - Judith Mukurugwiza is among residents of Muganza village who are still celebrating 'the arrival of water' in her locality. Yet the hilly, wet and evergreen neighborhood, abundant with banana crop has had plenty of water for as long as the 63-year-old grandmother can remember. Indeed as one approaches the village from the main highway, several clear water points are visible. But according to experts, most of it is unsuitable for human consumption.

KOUKOU, Eastern Chad/GENEVA, 27 February 2008 (LWI) - A representative of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Chad says thousands who fled the capital N'djamena into neighboring Cameroon following the early February fighting between government troops and rebels are afraid to return home, citing fears over security, especially under the current state of emergency.

'Churches, houses and hospitals in Kousseri have been filled to capacity trying to cope with the influx,' says Mr Jaap

I write this column from Geneva, where I am attending the annual round of meetings of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. LIRS has a long partnership with UNHCR, dating back more than half a century. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to learn about urgent and emerging refugee issues, and to advance the policy positions of LIRS.

Let me share with you what I consider to be five of the top refugee protection issues:

- Darfur-After three years the horrors of Darfur continue unabated. The death toll is over 400,000, with 2 million

Since 1984, the Lutheran World Federation-Nepal, a humanitarian organization, has been launching programmes related to relief and rehabilitation, and people's empowerment for sustainable development.

Kalikot district that lies in the Karnali Zone reeled under a natural disaster on April 10, 2006. Incessant rain and ferocious hailstorm damaged standing crops and ripe vegetables. Wheat, barley, Uwa, potatoes, fruits and so on were ruined by the rainfall. As food crisis struck the district, villagers sold their properties, jewellery,