News / Thoughts

Nigeria: 15,000 families receive vital help…

In northern Nigeria, many Christians have been displaced by violence from an Islamic extremist group called Boko Haram. Christian villages and towns have been targeted, and thousands are facing famine.

Thanks to your support, over 15,000 families, that’s 75,000 individuals – have received lifesaving aid. And they want to say thank you!

“You have demonstrated the love of God”

In June, the UN World Food Programme warned that hundreds of thousands of Nigerians could starve to death in the famine-threatened north east due to lack of aid funds to feed them. But thanks to your support, through the local church Open Doors has been able to provide three months’ worth of food to 15,000 families, each receiving 50kg beans, 100kg maize and financial support to help them to survive.

Rhoda, who has seven mouths to feed and struggles to make ends meet, was another beneficiary. “One fateful day we went to school and when we came back we found our house burned with our father inside.

“Life has not been easy for us. But thank God for Open Doors who gave us these gifts. It has not been easy for people because food items are very, very expensive. So we want to say, ‘Thank you’.”

“We are so grateful for this food aid,” shares Pastor Bulus* from Yobe State. He cries as he says, “Please tell the people who gave towards this aid that we will never forget what they have done for us. We have never experienced such help. You have demonstrated the love of God. On Sunday, people came to church en masse to praise God. And they thank the people who provided this aid.”

Famine: The unforeseen impact of Boko Haram

Since 2009, the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and the displacement of over 2 million people. But the agricultural impact of the insurgency is only just being realised.

• Many internally displaced people (IDPs) are from Borno State – a vast region of farmland which has seen the highest concentration of attacks. For the fourth year in a row, Borno is going without a harvest.
• Supplying food is dangerous: marketplaces, aid distribution points and roads are targeted in militant attacks.
• Population movements put pressure on host communities to provide food, and worsen food security.
• The Nigerian government is closing IDP camps, forcing many to return to insecure regions where food is scarce.

Christians face extra challenges as the little aid that reaches needy people in the north east is primarily distributed to Muslims over Christians. Thanks to your support, over £80,000 has so far been raised in the UK and Ireland since March to support vulnerable Christians with aid in north east Nigeria.

Thank you for all of your support. Please continue to pray and give towards the work in Nigeria – there’s more to be done and the relief programme is not yet fully funded. Every £37 could pay for a 50kg bag of beans.

Pray now…

• Praise God for protecting those distributing food, and that so many people have been helped thanks to the generosity of Open Doors supporters
• For wisdom for the local church as they work with Open Doors and other local aid agencies to provide for the most vulnerable in Nigeria
• For peace in the region and that the love of God will spread throughout north east Nigeria.