Contact: Daniel Lee, Lutheran World Relief, 410-230-2715, 443-449-4826 cell, dlee@lwr.org  

BALTIMORE, Feb. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- Lutheran World Relief today increased its financial commitment to Haiti relief efforts to $4 million, up from an earlier increased pledge of $2.25 million. The Rev. John Nunes, LWR's president and CEO, said the increase "will help meet the needs of overwhelmed and underserved rural communities in Haiti."

Photo: A woman cooks over charcoal heat in a tent community on a soccer field in Jacmel, Haiti, February 9, 2010. People across Haiti continue to deal with the aftermath of the devastating January 12 earthquake. (Photo by Jonathan Ernst for LWR).

LWR increased the commitment for a second time based on fundraising returns, including generous donations from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its members and pledges of support from both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

While many aid groups are focusing on emergency food supplies in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding urban areas, far fewer organizations are helping communities affected by mass migration to already struggling rural areas in the north. The United Nations indicates that nearly 470,000 people have fled to rural areas, with 300,000 going to rural areas north of Port-au-Prince where LWR currently works.

"LWR has worked in Haiti for 14 years, helping to improve health, food production and income in rural communities," says Michael Watt, LWR's Regional Director for Latin America programs. That long standing presence made LWR well positioned to act on behalf of communities that are often overlooked by traditional short-term relief efforts.

To help these struggling rural communities cope, LWR is working with Partenariat pour le Developpement Local (Partnership for Local Development or PLD), a local Haitian organization, to provide immediate relief and to prepare for long-term recovery work. Through PLD, LWR will help rural communities north of Port-au-Prince in the Artibonite, North, Northeast, Central Plateau and West Regions of Haiti, where the majority of Internally Displaced Peoples are migrating. "Food, water, temporary shelter and sanitation are our initial concerns," says Watt. "Looking ahead, we want to ensure that these communities have the capacity to grow their own food, earn sufficient income and manage their natural resources."

LWR is also committed to a long-term response with partner World Neighbors that will focus on these underserved rural areas by restoring local economies, rebuilding infrastructure, getting people back to work, and providing necessary health and sanitation measures.

In addition to LWR's short- and long-term response in rural areas, LWR is working with partners on the ground to ensure people have immediate access to food, water and shelter. In the first weeks following the earthquake, LWR sent a shipment of health kits and layettes valued at over $500,000, which has arrived and was distributed by partners Christian Aid and Church World Relief. A second shipment of quilts and kits is on its way to the Leogane region, and LWR is mobilizing more resources for future shipments. LWR partners active on the ground include Action by Churches Together members Lutheran World Federation, Church World Service, Norwegian Church Aid and Christian Aid.

"These activities all serve to meet the needs of people today while preparing for the long road of recovery ahead," adds Watt. "This is just the beginning of LWR's work to help and strengthen communities in Haiti."

Donations to the Haiti Earthquake fund can be made by phone at 800-LWR-LWR-2, online at lwr.org, or by mailing a check or money order to Lutheran World Relief Haiti Earthquake Relief, P.O. Box 17061, Baltimore, MD 21298-9832. You can also make an immediate $10 donation by texting "LWR" to 40579.

WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. And has worked in international development and relief since 1945.

INTERNATIONAL DISASTERS:Editors: When listing organizations receiving donations for aid to survivors of major disasters outside the United States, Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands, please include:Lutheran World Relief, www.lwr.org, 1-800-597-5972

EDITORS: PLEASE INCLUDE LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF WHEN LISTING ORGANIZATIONS RESPONDING TO THE EMERGENCY IN HAITI.