SIM relief aid response heads to Mozambique flood zone
Relief supplies from SIM and its partners are on their way to help flood victims in southern Mozambique. They should arrive before the end of March.
By Brian Heffron, SIM SASC media coordinator,
Relief supplies from SIM and its partners are on their way to help flood victims in southern Mozambique. They should arrive before the end of March.
The shipment includes clothing, 400 bags of maize flour, 400 kilograms of sugar, three metric tonnes of beans, and 750 kilograms of rice for the cities of Lichinga and Cuamba in Niassa province. SIM’s team there worked with other agencies, churches, and businesses in the area to identify needs, gather resources, and deliver them to affected areas.
Timothy George, treasurer and administrator for SIM Mozambique, says, “It’s great to see the unity of the churches and the organizations coming together to help.”
Although SIM’s team works in the country’s north, Timothy said many of them know people who live and serve in the affected areas near Beira, Chimoio, and Dombe. Where exactly the truck delivers the supplies will depend on what areas they can reach that still need help. While some areas have already received aid, other areas are inaccessible due to washed-out roads.
Mozambique had already seen heavy rainfalls before Cyclone Idai tore into the country March 14 with torrential rains, winds over 106 mph, and storm surges that, in some areas, exceeded four meters.1
“Thankfully, the rainy season is coming to an end, so hopefully it dries up quick, but we’ve had an extremely rainy rainy season here,” Timothy said. “It’s all low-lying land… If they get a lot of rain, it can easily flood.”
Timothy said that they hope to send another truck later. He also said they want to send a team to help but know that doing so sometimes causes a burden, so they are consulting with people in the flooded areas to consider the best ways to help. If they can arrange to fly in and out, then that might open more possibilities.
“The prayer is that God’s Word, God’s truth, God’s glory and honour would be proclaimed through the acts of people that are loving people even though they don’t know them, coming to their aid even though they’ve never met before,” Timothy said.
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SIM’s Disaster Relief Fund provides help to survivors of disasters in communities where SIM serves.
To make a donation to the Disaster Relief Fund (project #88600), please click on the donate button below, where you will be directed to the donation page.
Pray for
• wisdom and resources as people try to respond in love to this crisis.
• relief efforts to reach the injured and homeless quickly and safely.
• SIM workers to be able to show the love of Christ in all they do to help those affected.
• SIM workers in their partnerships with others to deliver aid.
• for God’s mercy in a situation which has devastated so many lives.
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