Bishops' Appeal Committee15 Apr 19

Bishops’ Appeal increases its emergency funding for Cyclone Idai survivors to €20,000

In response to the continued desperate needs of the survivors of Cyclone Idai in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal is releasing a further €10,000 to support the relief efforts.  The initial €10,000 donation has gone a long way to providing food, shelter, clean water and life–saving medicine where it is most needed.  However, Christian Aid’s Malawi Country Manager, Pansi Katenga, says that the scale of devastation is still enormous and survivors need help to stay alive.

‘Although the rains have stopped for now, they’re forecast to begin again soon, and we need to help people who are most vulnerable before the situation gets worse,’ she says. ‘The most at risk are children under five, lactating mothers and pregnant women, who need to keep up their nutrition.’

As parishes and individuals continue to send in donations, these will be added to the Bishops’ Appeal fund and sent to support Christian Aid and Tearfund partners working tirelessly on the ground. £40/€45 can supply a family with an emergency kit complete with hygiene items and essential food.’

All support is welcomed and appreciated.   Donations can be made online at https://store.ireland.anglican.org/donations and further details for giving by post, by bank lodgement, or through parish donations are available at www.bishopsappeal.ireland.anglican.org/give  

Kunja’s story

Kunja Ntandula, a 43–year–old mother of six children, lost everything including her house when the floods submerged her entire village of Mwalija, Malawi.  She was able to rescue her children, aged between seven months and seven years.  They climbed a tree and were rescued by a canoe and moved upland. She is now seeking shelter in Njelza camp.  Her immediate needs are food, shelter, and non–food items. At the camp, they only have access to one meal a day. She is very worried about her young children.