Print
this page
Email
this page Stories
Mothers' Union Relief Fund Update September 2005 - February 2006
Overview
In recent months, a large number of requests for immediate financial assistance have been received from dioceses in drought-affected areas of Africa. The Mothers’ Union Relief Fund has responded to these requests swiftly, with the assurance of the love and prayers of Mothers’ Union members all over the world. The food crisis has affected millions of people and the situation is worsening day by day. Relief fund grants have been sent to several dioceses in Kenya, as well as some dioceses in Burundi and Zambia.
Political instability continues to affect the lives of innocent men, women and children living in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Relief fund grants have been sent recently to alleviate the suffering of displaced families.
Famine crisis worsens in Kenya
Relief Fund grants have now been sent to fourteen dioceses in Kenya that have been devastated by prolonged drought causing widespread famine in the region. A state of national disaster has been declared by the Government of Kenya and it is feared that millions of people face starvation unless help is given.
The Relief Fund grants will enable the Mothers' Union in these dioceses
to purchase emergency food supplies of maize and beans to be distributed
to those worst affected by the famine, especially the sick, elderly and
the young.
The Mothers' Union Worker in the Diocese of Kajiado, Mrs Catherine Mwai, describes the current situation in Kenya:
“We were hopeful the rains would come shortly. What we have experienced instead is the longest spell of drought. We find hopeless women and children who have been left by their husbands and fathers with no food, no water and no money, a very moving situation. The women are too weak to walk after going without food for days.”
Staff at Mary Sumner House received this update from Mrs Margaret Vundi in January 2006:
“We thank you all in Mary Sumner House for your continuous support especially at this time with Kenya affected by drought. Some people are surviving on wild fruits. Old people are dying due to hunger and young children suffering from malnutrition. Most of the families spend several days without anything to eat. Most of these children have dropped from school due to hunger. We are expecting to help 7,597 families with maize and beans.”
Food Crisis in Burundi
The region of Kirundo in Burundi has not seen rain since 2002. The people of this region rely heavily on farming for their living and as a result of the lack of rain, many people are dying of starvation and many children are malnourished. They say that even the crops on the swamps have not produced as usual and malaria is worsening the situation of the people already in such conditions.
The
MU in Burundi say that the people there have lost hope. Many mothers have
resorted to cooking green herbs to give to their children as food, and
others have had to sell parts of their roofing in order to buy a small
quantity of food for their families. The Church, Mothers' Union
and other local NGOs have done their best to help using their own small
resources but they have not been able to reach all areas or all groups
of vulnerable people.
At the end of 2005, the Diocese of Buye identified 750 families that
were in urgent need of supplies and a Relief Fund grant was immediately
sent towards the purchase of rice, beans, maize and clothes for these families.
A month later, the dioceses of Gitega and Muyinga also requested help from
the MU Relief Fund to help families in their area that have been affected.
The Relief Fund grants to these dioceses will help the Mothers' Union purchase
emergency food supplies of maize, beans, and rice as well as some other
supplies such as clothing and mosquito nets.
Malawi
In
November 2005, staff at Mary Sumner House were contacted by the four dioceses
in Malawi, who were urgently requesting relief grants to help alleviate
the suffering of thousands of families facing starvation due to the devastating
food crisis affecting the region. Relief Fund grants were immediately sent
to each diocese.
In Northern Malawi, over 3,000 families were estimated to be in great need of emergency aid. With the Relief Fund grant, the Mothers' Union in the Diocese were able to provide assistance to many of these families. In the long term the Diocese aim to offer training to communities in the area on improving agricultural methods for long-term food security.
“(The) hunger crisis is just too big. Almost all people including all our MU members are affected. Those who can afford just have one meal a day. Meantime most of the rural dwellers depend on the mangoes and most of the trees are empty now. The situation is really pathetic especially in the rural areas where most of our members are. Children go to school with empty stomachs as their parents cannot afford to buy food. The elderly are also most affected” Mrs Agnes Mkoko, MU Worker, Upper Shire Diocese
Southern Malawi and Lake Malawi Dioceses were similarly affected and with the help of a Relief Fund grant, the MU in each diocese have been able to help those worst affected by the food crisis.
Thousands flee renewed fighting in Congo
In
September 2005 there was renewed fighting in the Diocese of Boga in Northern
Congo. A large group of rebels attacked the centre of the Diocese, looting
and burning houses, buildings and the main hospital. Thousands of people,
mainly women and children, immediately fled from the area and settled in
camps in Eringeti and Bunia. Approximately 7,000 people (875 families)
were living in a displaced people camp in Eringeti and some 2,000 people
(223 families) in Bunia. Many more people were expected to arrive at the
displacement camps in the following weeks.
The Mothers' Union Workers for Boga visited the displaced people in the camps and talked to them about their experiences and needs. Many of the displaced people found their escape from Boga was hampered by heavy rain and they arrived in the camps tired, hungry and of course scared and traumatized. The Mothers' Union Workers reported that the elderly people and pregnant women especially suffered much by spending several nights in the bush. Everyone was greatly in need of emergency supplies of food and other materials. During her conversations with some of the younger women she also found that the rebels had sexually assaulted some of them.
A Relief Fund grant was quickly sent to enable the Mothers' Union to purchase maize flour, blankets, jerricans, soap and other utensils for these displaced families.
“The number of displaced people is increasing every day. With the Relief Fund money we have already been able to assist 123 families at Bunia and at Eringeti we have assisted 951 families with an emergency kit. In Bunia and Eringeti we still have many more families to assist. All the people were very amazed for your love and compassion. Thank you.”
In
January 2006 there was another influx of displaced people following further
clashes between government soldiers and rebel fighters. Staff at Mary Sumner
House received the following update on the situation from the MU Workers:
“I want to thank you so much for the relief funds you have sent to us in order to assist displaced people at Bunia, Eringeti and also at Boga. Now again the war which is taking place between the government soldiers and the militias in our Archdeaconry of Gety has caused so many displaced people. The innocent population is confused for militia by the government soldiers and the militias accuse the population of cooperating with the government soldiers. So really it is better for the population of Gety to leave the area until the region is secured. Many people have died and we have registered many kids without parents. We have visited them and they are living at Yambi Yaya (322 families), Pensionnat (248 families), Dele (174 families), Kindia (211 families) and Lengabo (265 families). During our visit we noticed that most of these displaced people are women, elders and kids”
Congolese refugees flee into Uganda
Followed the renewed fighting in some parts of Congo mentioned above, some have also fleed into neighbouring Uganda. A large number of refugees settled three kilometres from the centre of Muhabura town on the Kabale road. The situation was described as desperate. A Relief Fund grant was sent to the Province of Uganda towards the purchase of food and blankets for the displaced people.
Hurricane Wilma devastates South-East Florida
At the end of 2005, Hurricane Wilma swept across Florida causing $9 billion worth of damage. Six million people were left without power in southern Florida and thousands had to move into shelters due to the damage inflicted on their homes. According to news reports, thousands of people across southern Florida waited for days to receive basic necessities such as food and water. Hurricane Wilma has been described as the most devastating storm to hit Florida since 1950.
The Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of South-East Florida wanted to help those who had lost their possessions by providing small hampers of food supplies and basics such as blankets. A Relief Fund Grant was sent to the Provincial President, Mazel Medley, who was co-ordinating the Relief effort.
Drought in Eastern Zambia
Zambia has also been affected by prolonged periods of rought in recent
years. In 2005 a Relief Fund grant was sent to Eastern Zambia. In January
2006 staff at Mary Sumner House received a further request for help from
the Mothers' Union in Eastern Zambia:
“The hunger situation is worsening everyday because the little stocks people had are almost finished and they have to wait till the next harvest in May/June 2006. Many families go without meals; those who eat once a day are lucky. The problem that this situation creates is that the production may be affected as people will spend more time looking for food instead of working in their fields. About 1.7 million people are affected by the hunger situation according to statistics.
Fire devastates two villages in Nebbi, Uganda
In February 2006 a Relief Fund grant was sent to the Diocese of Nebbi in
Uganda in response to the news of a huge fire which broke out in the diocese
burning down two villages, Opano and Nduru in Nebbi town. Approximately
1,000 people, lost their homes and whatever personal possessions they had. A
total of 221 households were seriously affected. Their immediate needs
included food, plastic sheeting, utensils, blankets and clothing and the
Relief Fund grant will now go towards purchasing some of these essential
supplies.
How
you can help
Already this year Relief Fund grants totalling over £93,500 have been made.
By making a donation to the Mothers' Union Relief Fund you can make a real difference to the lives of families across the world.
As you can see from the grants made in the last few months, the Relief Fund supports a lot of vital Mothers' Union relief work around the world. This work is only possible through the continued enthusiasm, prayer support and financial support of our members and friends around the world.
Raising money for the Relief Fund will help us continue our essential work!
Top
