UPDATED 22ND JULY 2019
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38- 39)
In the aftermath of the devastating cyclone which has caused tremendous damage throughout Southern Africa. Those of us who are far away can only imagine the extent of destruction and loss caused by such a storm. It is regarded as one of the worst tropical cyclones on record to affect Africa and the Southern Hemisphere as a whole. The storm caused catastrophic damage in multiple nations, leaving more than 400 people dead and hundreds more missing. The cyclone, made landfall in Mozambique on the 14 March following a week of heavy rains and flooding across southeast Africa that has already affected more than a million people and leaving over 800,000 people displaced
The government in Malawi report more than 900,000 people have been impacted in 14 affected districts. In Zimbabwe, early estimates from government sources put the numbers affected by the cyclone as approximately 1,600 households and hundreds are reported missing. The heavy rains and floods will impact agricultural activities, as fields are flooded, and recently planted crops have been destroyed.
With hundreds of thousands of people in urgent need of assistance across Mozambique and Zimbabwe a major humanitarian response is now underway in the wake of the cyclone. NCLF co-chair Dr R. David Muir says, “The floods affecting these countries are of biblical proportions. We offer our prayers and our condolences to all those who have lost families and friends in this natural disaster; and we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in the aftermath of this disaster, ready to help and support them as they struggle to comfort one another and rebuild their lives.”
We are calling for church congregations and individuals to support the efforts of humanitarian agencies as they respond to the humanitarian crisis. Victims, especially those in remote areas, are in desperate need of food, water, clothing, shelter and medicine. NCLF also calls on international governments to respond to the national state of emergency.
Churches find out more and support appeals below by linking on the relevant links
1.DEC are helping to provide much-needed emergency assistance. DEC Appeal link is here www.dec.org.uk/appeal/cyclone-idai-appea
2. Christian Aid, who have released emergency reserves to support with the immediate relief response. Christian Aid link is here www.christianaid.org.uk/emergencies/cyclone-idai-appeal
As the humanitarian response to Cyclone Idai proceeds, NCLF supports the international call for
- Rapid investment in emergency water, hygiene, and sanitation infrastructure and supplies, communications, shelter, and emergency food assistance
- Delivering priority assistance to particularly marginalised communities and vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. We know from experience that extreme weather events like Cyclone Idai hit the poorest hardest
- Ensure that groups representing those affected or displaced, as well as relevant civil society associations and NGOs, influence decisions throughout the response, and that there are appropriate mechanisms to provide accountability to all those affected
- Ensure that the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement are upheld to meet the specific, increasing needs of internally displaced persons, as well as host communities
Today we stand with the affected communicates across southern Africa as we share in one another’s suffering and hope. We pray for the agencies and services of those who can be the hands and feet of hope for those who are suffering.
For more information contact: NCLF Co-Chairs
Pastor Ade Omooba 07956 007150 and Dr R David Muir 07530 780110
Website: www.nclf.org.uk
Email: info.nclf@gmail.com