News / Thoughts

Nigeria: Christians denied aid

Millions of people are facing starvation and famine in sub-Saharan Africa. But due to tension and conflict, vital aid is not always getting where it needs to, and Christians are being denied life-saving help.

Bishop William Naga was forced to flee his home in Gwoza, Nigeria, the city Boko Haram declared the capital of their ‘caliphate’ (Islamic State) in 2014. He explained, “The governor did his best when the Christians had to flee in 2014 and 2015. But when the care of the camps was handed over to other organisations, the discrimination started. They will give food to the refugees, but if you are a Christian they will not give you food. They will openly tell you that the relief is not for Christians.”

Different camps…

Displaced Christians started to form their own, informal camps, when they no longer felt welcome in the main camps. John Gwamma, the chairman at an informal Christian camp confirmed, “We have started informal, purely Christian camps because Christians were being segregated in the formal camps. They had not been given food, or allowed to go to church. There is a term called ‘arne’, meaning pagan. Meaning, you are pagan and not a Muslim, and as long as you are not a Muslim, we don’t like you to stay together with us.”

After being denied access to essential supplies, many were left in dire circumstances – some were forced to eat leaves to survive. But Open Doors has been able to work through local churches to provide thousands of families in these informal camps with vital aid, including food and blankets.

Mary Charles, one displaced Christian who received this support, said, “We had to flee Boko Haram because they didn’t allow us to go to our farm. We had no drinking water and we didn’t have anything to eat. I thank God for this food aid and I thank the people who brought it. We now have food that we can give to our children.”

Alongside emergency food aid, Open Doors partners with the local church in Nigeria to provide training, scholarships for children, community development projects, legal assistance and trauma counselling.

Donate whatever you can to help us keep providing vital help for displaced Nigerians…
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Pray now…

• For provision for the millions of people facing starvation and famine in sub-Saharan Africa
• That Open Doors will continue to be able to work through local churches and partners to provide aid to Christians who have been refused support because of their faith in Jesus
• For wisdom for leaders in the region as they face this humanitarian crisis.