Methodist Church in Mozambique responds to the national challenges, supported by the World Mission Fund

Humanitarian support for Mozambique victims affected by cyclone Eloise and Islamists insurgents - £10,000 General Grant from the World Mission Fund.

Mozambique has been hit by a series of natural disasters in recent years, with a situation probably worsened by the climate change.

In 2018 the central region was terribly devastated by IDAI Cyclone, at the same time the country was facing floods and Kenneth Tropical Cyclone in the northern region of the country and terrible drought in the south, where some people and cattle died as result of this.

Whilst coping with the COVID 19 pandemic in January 2021, large storms have again crossed Mozambique, affecting hundreds of thousands of people, with the prospect of more storms to come in early 2021. The psychological effects of these disasters have been huge. Many people have recently lost their loved ones and while they were trying to recover storms have once again affect poor and vulnerable people in a similar way.

Whilst dealing with storms and pandemic there has been a resurgence of violence within Mozambique. Since 2017, more the two thousand people have been killed with houses and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and churches have been burnt. People have fled their homes to safe areas in the city of Pemba and also in other provinces in the North of Mozambique, Nampula, Niassa and Zambézia. The journey to find safety has meant many families spending days and nights in bushland without food or shelter. Some families in places like Namialo in Nampula are hosting about sixty (60) other families in their own family compounds. There are more 560,000 (five hundred and sixty thousand) displaced people living in tents in overcrowded camps. Government, some religious Communities, NGOs and people of good will are trying to provide some assistance but the need is so huge and the victims of the attacks perpetuated by the insurgents have displaced and scattered people to various places.

The Mozambique Synod of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa are responding to these multiple situations of need, and this is being supported from the World Mission Fund of the Methodist Church in Britain with a General Grant of £10.000.

Due to the psychological effects caused by the above-mentioned situations, the Methodist Church in Mozambique intends to provide psychosocial support, pastoral counselling and spiritual care to affected people. This will be done in conjunction with its ecumenical partners throughout the country, seen that the Methodist Church clergy alone cannot reach all who are in need.
The Methodist Church once again intends to do fact finding in terms of the ground needs of people and provide assistance with agriculture inputs as a way for a rapid production recovery;
It will provide food and mats (sleeping carpets) assistance is necessary for houses hosting a large number of refugees families;
It will provide mosquito nets and medication that are necessary to the displaced people, victims of war and cyclones to prevent
It plans to provide educational material to students
It will support the displaced families from villages with food, hygiene items and psychological support following the violence in northern Mozambique.
It will conduct public health campaigns to reduce the spread of COVID-19 as positive cases increased since December 2020

The Methodist Church in Mozambique has launched a campaign to its members, aiming to collect clothes and goods to assist those who have lost all that they possessed, because of Cyclone Eloise. Providing essential relief to the victims will help reduce the spread of COVID-19, in addition to reducing hunger and malaria. The assistance should offer some support, comfort and dignified well-being during perpetual hardships.

The Methodist Church has provided assistance with food parcel to one thousand four hundred people with extreme food needs because of the COVID 19 Pandemic in Maputo, Gaza, Manica, Sofala and Nampula Provinces. These food parcels were distributed to beneficiaries in two phases, the first in September and October 2020 and the second phase in December 2020 and January 2021.

Together with local Youth Peace Clubs, the Mozambique synod of MCSA also intends to engage the Young People for Peace to build awareness and increase understanding of the harmfulness of fundamentalist doctrines and armed actions. The church also plans to engage professionals to work with the youths to prevent them joining the terrorists.

In terms of Covid 19 Pandemic response, the Methodist Church is still providing public awareness to church and community members for the prevention of coronavirus disease spread. For some elderly and poor people, the Church intends to provide PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) and create the required conditions for the re-opening of its worship places.

Please keep the Mozambique Synod of the Methodist Church Southern Africa in your prayers as the seek to respond to the needs of their communities.