Today we hold before God all those in southern Africa who are living with the dire impacts of Cyclone Idai. Heavy rain and flooding have devastated large areas of Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, leaving many – possibly thousands – dead and many more facing unimaginable loss.
Details of how you can support the churches’ response are given below.
He highlights the need for collaboration with other institutions and the mobilisation of local Anglican resources including food aid. He noted the generous contributions of individual church members. “The first lot was shipped today comprising of 1,3ton of rice, 1,07ton of maize meal, sugar, soap and clothes,” he said. The Bishop also cited the need for funds for school materials and restoring school buildings, for health protection activities, for support to families in rebuilding their homes, agriculture and livestock, as well as restoring damaged churches.
The Diocese of Southern Malawi within the Province of Central Africa has also suffered terrible impact from the cyclone.
The Rt Rev’d Alinafe Kalemba, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Southern Malawi, has updated the Anglican Alliance on the situation in his diocese.
“The situation is still bad, in all our seven administrative districts, within our Diocesan jurisdiction. We have been massively affected, lives lost, property, crops, livestock, houses and a lot washed away. Even our church structures demolished. It’s just pathetic. It will take long to stabilize the situation.
Bishop Kalemba explained that the Diocese’ Disaster and Relief Committee is compiling a proposal with plans for immediate relief and long-term recovery.
Bishop Rumona described how the Anglican Relief and Development in Zimbabwe (ARDeZ), the development wing of the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, is leading on the response. “Urgent assistance is needed to ensure that the survivors of this disaster are well taken care of as they recover from this traumatic incident,” Bishop Rumona said. The Diocese is looking to respond to basic human needs, including ensuring food, medical needs, as well as longer term recovery. It is working with the Government, civil society, the Red Cross Society and others in its response.
Revd. Rachel Carnegie, the Executive Director of the Anglican Alliance, says, “The crisis is huge. But as the Anglican Alliance we have the privilege of being in touch with the local Church at this time and hearing how people on the ground are responding”.
Several of the relief, development and mission agencies around the Communion have launched appeals, as well as some of the companion links that have special relationships with dioceses in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. Details of how you can donate to the response are provided below.