Mama Martha, 45, was overjoyed as she received emergency relief aid from The United Methodist Church in January. Head of a household of 11 people, Martha fled Kibumba, about 20 kilometers from her home, to take refuge with a host family in Goma.
“I thank God, who acted through his servants to help us. We had suffered a lot," she said, carrying a bag of rice on her back. One of her children helped her carry the oil can and other goods.
Since last year, The United Methodist Church has been helping displaced people in eastern Congo.
“In November 2022, we assisted 2,000 households in the Don Bosco Ngangi, Kanyarushinya and Kibati Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, and in January 2023 we supported more than 2,500 IDP households living with host families and in Goma IDP camps,” said Jean Tshomba, coordinator of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s disaster management office in eastern Congo.
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The United Methodist Committee on Relief, the humanitarian and development arm of The United Methodist Church, provided $400,000 and the Global Health unit of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries provided $50,000 to support the displaced people. The funds were used to purchase rice, cornmeal, vegetable oil, salt, washing basins, 20-liter buckets and toiletries.
Tshomba said the people fled their homes because of the war to take refuge in Goma and other camps, and their situation is a major concern to the church.
Nyirahabimana Mushi Daphrose, 52, also thanked the church for its assistance. Living in a household of 10, Daphrose said the food would keep her family fed for more than two weeks.
The Rev. Henri Jean Robert Kasongo Numbize of the Kivu Conference, which conducted the distribution, offered words of comfort to the beneficiaries on behalf of Bishop Gabriel Yemba Unda.
“You are in the prayers of The United Methodist Church in East Congo through its servant and first pastor, Bishop Unda Yemba, which is why he is sending you this assistance today,” he said.
“The living conditions in these camps are unbearable with poor sanitation and hygiene," said Tshomba.
Lushima said Global Health's funding would develop initiatives to promote a healthy environment in IDP camps.
“The church planned to set up mobile clinics, sanitary facilities and provide water supplies in the sites where the displaced people are staying thanks to funds made available by Global Health,” he said.
At the launch of the distribution in Don Bosco Ngangi in November, Numbize encouraged the displaced persons "to love one another and to trust in our God because all this will pass one day.
“We will never forget you; we are your brothers and sisters in Christ and we share your pain,” he said.
With a smile, Martha said she prays that God will bless all the donors who have made it possible for The United Methodist Church to help people displaced by war in eastern Congo.
excerpt of a story by Chadrack Tambwe Londe, French news editor for UM News in the DRC.
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