Episcopal Relief & Development Responds to Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Episcopal Relief & Development Responds to Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
May 3, 2018
Episcopal Relief & Development is partnering with three dioceses in the Province of the Anglican Church of the Congo (PEAC) to provide critical emergency support to communities affected by escalating violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Ongoing civil unrest continues across 10 provinces around the country, causing an increase in the number of people displaced and contributing to the loss of human life and property.
Complicating the situation, approximately 1.8 million displaced people have started returning to their homes, including some 1.4 million in the Kasai province, where they are faced with limited services and destroyed properties and infrastructure.
Episcopal Relief & Development is working through the provincial office to serve the Anglican dioceses of Aru, Boga and Bukavu to provide critical food, clothing, medical care and pastoral support to 650 families. Volunteers, mothers’ unions, and youth from the three dioceses will distribute critical supplies such as rice, sugar, salt, oil, biscuits, soap and medicine to those most impacted by the ongoing violence. The dioceses will offer pastoral counseling and referrals to trauma specialists as needed.
In 2017, the number of people in the DRC in need of assistance doubled to 13 million. Inter-ethnic conflict and ongoing incidents of violence against women and children have created one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises. According to the United Nations, 2.2 million Congolese children suffer from severe acute malnutrition.
“The Church has been very involved in these communities. We are grateful to continue partnering with the dioceses to address the needs of families and communities devastated by the unfolding crisis,” said Nagulan Nesiah, Senior Program Officer for Disaster Response and Risk Reduction at Episcopal Relief & Development. “We are keeping everyone in our thoughts and prayers,” Nesiah said.
Please pray for families and communities impacted by the violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Donations to the International Disaster Response Fund will help Episcopal Relief & Development respond to this crisis and other disasters worldwide.
For over 75 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has served as a compassionate response to human suffering in the world. The agency works with more than 3 million people in nearly 40 countries worldwide to overcome poverty, hunger and disease through multi-sector programs, using the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework. An independent 501(c)(3) organization, it works closely with Anglican Communion and ecumenical partners to help communities create long-term development strategies and rebuild after disasters.
