LWF World Service

15/09/2026

“𝑾𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓—𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉.”

Sometimes, a small action can make a meaningful difference.

In an interview with The Christian Century, LWF World Service Director Maria Immonen shares an example from a clinic in Somalia, where drought and malnutrition affect women and children. Something as simple as providing an egg each day to a child or pregnant woman could contribute to better nutrition, yet limited humanitarian funding can put even such a small solution out of reach.

But humanitarian action is also about looking beyond an immediate need.

At the heart of LWF’s humanitarian and development work is a rights-based approach that puts people’s rights and dignity at the center. Maria illustrates what this means with another simple example: if a girl has no shoes, giving her a pair of shoes helps meet an immediate need. But what if she also lacks safe shelter, faces violence, or is unable to access her rights?

A rights-based approach looks at the person and their wider circumstances—not only what they need today, but also their rights, dignity, participation, and the barriers preventing them from living safely and with dignity.

As Maria explains:

“𝑨 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉-𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.”

Small actions matter. An egg can matter. A pair of shoes can matter. And understanding the person and the bigger story behind that immediate need matters too.

👇 Read the full interview to explore Maria’s reflections on humanitarian action, human dignity, hope, and the realities facing communities around the world.

“We see hope in the small things,” says LWF World Service director Maria Immonen, “but also despair—because the solutions are right there, just out of our...

03/09/2026

Supporting survivors in Nepal

As the death toll from Nepal’s flash flooding continues to rise, LWF is undertaking a second phase of humanitarian assistance targeting remote communities in Rasuwa district.
Following on from initial relief operations in Nuwakot district, LWF Nepal is coordinating with local government and civil society organizations to send basic food items, hygiene and dignity kits, clothing and other essential household items to survivors of last Wednesday’s floods, which have claimed over a thousand lives.

A needs assessment among affected communities highlights urgent needs in the areas of shelter, food security, sanitation and hygiene services, with about 80 percent of households lacking access to safe drinking water and 70 percent with no functioning toilet. Psychosocial support and protection were also identified as urgent needs by 90 percent of respondents.

LWF Nepal’s Country Director Dr Bijaya Bajracharya says that many people are traumatized and some families have been separated during the rescue operations. Those with older or disabled members are particularly vulnerable and in need of support. Relief work remains extremely challenging due to badly damaged infrastructure and difficult mountainous terrain.



Donate: https://donate.lutheranworld.org/ws/emergencies/~my-donation

03/09/2026

Nepal: 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙡 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙪𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜.

The surge of water, ice, rock, and debris on 26 August devastated communities across several districts, destroying homes, roads, bridges, and livelihoods, and leaving many people dead, missing, or displaced.

LWF is distributing emergency shelter and household items, with plans to scale up support for food security, cash assistance, safe water, sanitation, protection, and psychosocial care.

One flood survivor, Bhagwati Pyakurel from the Betrawati locality, said: “The destruction has affected us emotionally as much as physically. We are constantly worried about the future and need support to cope with what has happened.”

Thousands of displaced families remain isolated and in urgent need of emergency shelter and support.

Your support can help LWF provide shelter, clean water, food, and protection to affected families, while supporting communities as they recover and rebuild in the months ahead.

❤️ Support the response (Donate): https://shorturl.at/JvG4O

🔗 Read more (Story) : https://shorturl.at/yHVuP

31/08/2026

Supporting families as they recover from the recent floods in Nepal.

LWF Nepal has handed over essential emergency relief items to Bidur Municipality in Nuwakot to support 136 flood-affected households. The assistance includes kitchen utensil sets, family tents, and tarpaulins to help families meet immediate shelter and household needs.

This support is part of LWF’s ongoing response alongside local authorities and communities affected by the floods.

27/08/2026

The devastating flash floods in Nepal have brought loss and disruption to communities across several affected areas.

The floods have caused significant loss of life, with dozens killed and hundreds still being accounted for, and have swept away homes, roads, bridges, and hydropower infrastructure across Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading districts. Authorities are working to verify the whereabouts of hundreds of travelers, including many foreign nationals, as search and rescue operations continue.

LWF stands with the people of Nepal and with our colleagues and partners working alongside affected communities.

Drawing on decades of experience working with vulnerable communities across the country, LWF Nepal remains committed to responding in ways that are grounded in local needs, dignity, and resilience. LWF is currently assessing the situation on the ground, together with local partners, to better understand the needs of affected communities and determine the most appropriate response.

The Lutheran World Federation

LWF Nepal stands in solidarity with all those affected by the devastating flash floods.
Our hearts are with the families and communities in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, and other impacted areas along the Bhotekoshi and downstream rivers. The sudden surge of water and debris has taken lives, destroyed homes, washed away bridges and infrastructure, and left many missing and displaced. We mourn with those who have lost loved ones and stand beside every family facing this profound hardship.
LWF Nepal remains firmly committed to supporting the people of Nepal in times of crisis. Drawing on decades of experience working with vulnerable communities across the country, we are ready to contribute to immediate relief efforts and longer-term recovery—helping provide shelter, food, clean water, hygiene support, and pathways toward rebuilding lives with dignity and resilience.
Together with our partners, local governments, and communities, we will continue walking alongside those affected. No one should face this alone.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the rescue teams, the missing, the injured, and every person impacted.

🙏The Lutheran World Federation Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ALWS Alongside Hope Lutherischer Weltbund - Deutsches Nationalkomitee

21/08/2026

World Humanitarian Day: In Haiti ‘protection of humanitarian workers is not a luxury’

World Humanitarian Day honors the daily work of all humanitarians. We wrap up our video messages from LWF’s humanitarians this week, sharing why they remain committed to their work, protecting the people they serve amid many challenges.

In this video, our colleagues from LWF Haiti share their collective commitment to see lives transformed in an insecure context, where protection is not a luxury but a prerequisite for taking action.


LWF World Service

20/08/2026

“For me, humanity means to serve others, being able to accompany them through this process of suffering, and being able to rebuild livelihoods, communities, and social ties.”

As we continue marking World Humanitarian Day this week, we are sharing the voices of humanitarian colleagues across LWF World Service who stand alongside communities affected by crises.

In Venezuela, where recent earthquakes have compounded an already challenging humanitarian situation, our colleague reflects on what motivated them to respond: the opportunity to accompany affected communities, stand in solidarity, and remind people that they are not alone.

Their experience also highlights the important role of community and religious leaders who have been on the front lines of the emergency response and continue contributing to recovery.

Watch the video to hear what humanity and humanitarian action mean from the perspective of someone responding within their own country.

Together, we can make a difference. Solidarity strengthens us. Humanity connects us.

Federación Luterana Mundial Colombia Venezuela

20/08/2026

𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙝𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙠, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙙. 𝙄𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙖𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙫𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙨𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩.

As we continue marking World Humanitarian Day this week, we are sharing the voices of humanitarian colleagues across LWF World Service who continue serving communities in some of the most challenging environments.

In Ukraine, humanitarian workers carry out their daily work amid air-raid alarms, drone attacks, and the constant threat of violence—experiences that can take both a physical and emotional toll.

In this video, our colleague from LWF Ukraine reflects on how focusing on what she can do—supporting people with knowledge and skills they can use in their daily lives—also helps her navigate the uncertainty around her.

Watch the video to hear directly from our colleague about why protecting humanitarian workers and respecting International Humanitarian Law matter.

19/08/2026

Today, on World Humanitarian Day, we continue sharing the voices of humanitarian colleagues across LWF World Service who stand alongside communities affected by crises every day.

In this video, our colleagues from LWF Ethiopia reflect on the realities of humanitarian work in fragile contexts. One colleague shares how his own experience of being internally displaced continues to inspire his commitment to supporting others through crisis.

Watch the video to hear why they remain committed to serving communities with compassion, resilience, and hope.

18/08/2026

𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐲: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐫𝐢𝐚

World Humanitarian Day (WHD) is approaching. We are sharing video messages from LWF’s humanitarians, explaining why they remain committed to the work they do amid many challenges, and why protecting them and the people they serve is critical.

The 2026 WHD campaign focuses on the rising threats against civilians and aid workers while demanding an end to impunity for violations of international humanitarian law.

Watch the video to hear how humanitarian colleagues in Syria continue serving communities with commitment and compassion, even in complex and challenging contexts.