Floods hit churches and Christian homes in East and West Africa

Sudan

A pastor stands on the rubble of a church wrecked by floods in Sudan.

Homes and a newly constructed church in Soba Aradi, Khartoum State, Sudan have been demolished by intense rainstorms and flooding. Soba Aradi, about 15km south of Khartoum City, is a camp that currently holds some 23,000 internally displaced people, mainly Christians from South Sudan, displaced by civil war that racked the country for 22 years and completely destroyed the infrastructure of the South. It is estimated that 4.9 million people have been displaced within and outside the country.

These people have already suffered so much, but now many of their homes, which were built using mud, have collapsed, leaving the inhabitants no choice but to sleep outside in the water-filled compound. There is little possibility of the homes’ being rebuilt in the near future as it is too expensive and the area will probably not recover from the flooding until after the rainy season ends later this year. High unemployment and the increased danger of water-borne diseases only add to the difficulties.

Niger

Then in the first week of September, four days of intense rain in the Air Mountains of northern Niger caused a dam to break outside the town of Agadez. Local rivers burst their banks and crops and buildings were damaged by storms. The poorest of the local population live in riverbeds left dry by years of drought, and disastrous consequences follow when heavy rain runs off the mountains and fills the rivers again. Destruction is widespread. A Barnabas partner has described the situation as “very, very critical”, and has warned of a possible cholera outbreak and the danger of malaria.

At least 164 local Christian families have been affected by the rainstorms and flooding. In a remote region that is badly affected by political instability, Barnabas are one of only a very few aid agencies able to respond quickly and effectively.

Can you help our brothers and sisters?

Barnabas Fund has received requests for urgent help with maize, rice, lentils, sorghum, flour, milk powder, cooking oil, blankets, mosquito nets, plastic sheeting and medicine.

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, says,

“Many of our brothers and sisters in Niger and Sudan live in acute poverty, and a disaster such as the recent storms and floods threatens their very survival. Please help us to support them with the basics of life as they face an uncertain future.”

Donate Today

Please give what you can to help Christians affected by these severe floods. Click to donate online using our secure server. Please quote project reference 38-844 (Floods in East and West Africa)

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK (Please quote project reference 38-844).

If you prefer to send a cheque by post: Click this link for the address of our regional office. (Please quote project reference 38-844).