Storm causes damage at EYN refugee camp in Cameroon

By Roy Winter, Church of the Brethren Service Ministries

We have been hearing of a storm and need at the Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN, the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) refugee camp in Cameroon, called Camp Minawao. The new EYN director of Disaster Relief Management, Bitrus Duwara, investigated and found out the following:

“Concerning the message you heard from individuals about storm and the plight of our members at Minawao Camp in Cameroon, I found out that it was true. 1. The church built by displaced members at Madagali L.G.A was razed down by storm. 2. EYN No. 10 [church] at Minawao Camp was also razed down by storm with some of our members’ houses. 3. IDP Camp Wurojabe’s church in Jimeta, Adamawa State [Nigeria] was also razed down by storm. Finally, the arrangement by the Borno State government to bring our people back home [from Cameroon] to settle in their selected places like Gwoza, Warabe, and Pulka has proven abortive. They are still battling with hunger over there. We seek your approval if the [monetary] support intended for their support when they are back to Nigeria can be given to them while they are still away at Minawao Camp in Cameroon.”

EYN had planned to support families returning from Cameroon as part of this year’s Nigeria Crisis Response program. I have given approval to reallocate those funds, and others if needed, to address those impacted by the storm and the hunger in Camp Minawao.

— Roy Winter is executive director of the Church of the Brethren’s Service Ministries and Brethren Disaster Ministries and is currently serving as interim executive for Global Mission.

Below: Among the structures damaged by a storm at EYN’s Minawao Camp for refugees in Cameroon was the EYN No. 10 church building. Photo courtesy of EYN Disaster Relief Management