Grants support increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan, among other responses to violence and war

Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethren’s Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to fund planning for increased humanitarian needs in South Sudan; an aid program by l’Eglise des Freres au Congo (Church of the Brethren in the DR Congo) for displaced families and refugees in Burundi who have fled the M23 violence; and purchase of medicines and medical equipment for hospitals and clinics serving Palestinians displaced in Gaza City due to the Israel-Hamas war.

South Sudan

A grant of $35,000 supports crisis response planning and the beginning of a response to the expanding humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, which is caused by escalating violence, political tension, and ethnic tensions. Recent violence and the arrest of opposition leaders by South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, combined with ethnic group tensions has the country on the brink of civil war. The 2018 peace agreement ended open warfare in South Sudan, but didn’t end the political, economic, or ethnic tensions in the country.

The scope of this crisis is staggering, with nearly 70 percent of the population (7.7 million people) facing “acute food insecurity” while more than 2.2 million are internally displaced and another 2.3 are refugees in surrounding countries. The result is that nearly 80 percent of the South Sudanese population are in need of humanitarian assistance. The impact from the years of war and limited development combined with the effects of climate change has been devastating for the people of South Sudan.

The Church of the Brethren has a long history of service in South Sudan, most recently resulting in the planting of four churches with other preaching points emerging. The mission in South Sudan, supported by the Global Mission office, has been able to continue while also providing relief and agriculture programing through EDF grants.

An emerging plan focuses all church programing in South Sudan around communities with developing Church of the Brethren congregations. Brethren Disaster Ministries intends to work more closely with the mission, including requesting EDF funds to support agriculture, education, trauma healing training, and other areas of development. Additional South Sudanese staff have been recruited to help with planning, communication, program implementation, and church growth. There is also the need for immediate relief programing.

Democratic Republic of Congo

A grant of $50,000 helps l’Eglise des Freres au Congo (Church of the Brethren in the DR Congo) to provide emergency humanitarian aid to displaced families and refugees in Burundi who have fled the M23 violence around the city of Goma. Since January, nearly 70,000 Congolese refugees have crossed the border into Burundi, the majority of them women, children, and the elderly. The church leaders in the DR Congo reports that at least 34 church families are among them. Since 2022, the Congolese church identified the need to respond to the conflict as soon as the displaced people began arriving on the outskirts of Goma. While there is no reported loss of life among the Brethren, there is limited access to food and many of their jobs ended with the conflict.

Ongoing conversations between Brethren Disaster Ministries and Congolese church leaders have resulted in the outline of a plan to provide aid to refugees in the camps with Church of the Brethren members. The proposal is to provide programing and aid for 15,000 households at the Rutana and Makamba refugee camps in Bujumbura for 6 months. However, the situation in the camps is so dire that assistance is needed immediately.

Israel-Hamas war

A grant of $20,000 supports Bethlehem Bible College Shepherd Society for purchase of medicines and medical equipment for Al Ahli Baptist Hospital and the medical clinic in St. Porphyrios Orthodox Church, both of which serve Palestinians displaced in Gaza City.

Renewed bombing of Gaza by Israel recently has been more intense than previous attacks. Renewed ceasefire talks are ongoing but as of April 23, there was no new agreement and a continuing blockade on aid. The recent bombings have seemed to target many of the places where the displaced are living, increasing casualties and trauma. The levels of stress and trauma are extremely high among children and adults stuck in Gaza. The war is impacting all Palestinian people, Christian and Muslim, including those living in other parts of the Palestinian territories or Israel.

This request is for additional support of the programing of the Shepherd Society, the humanitarian outreach arm of Bethlehem Bible College, an academic university college located in the West Bank. The Shepherd Society has been working to provide relief to the Palestinian citizens of Gaza since the start of the war. They have developed a proven network of trusted colleagues including the Anglican Diocese in Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, the Greek Orthodox Church, and others inside Gaza.

On March 13, Palm Sunday, the Israeli military bombed Al Ahli hospital destroying the emergency room, pharmacy, chapel, and oxygen generation facility for the intensive care unit. The attack shut down the hospital, with some patients being evacuated while some too critical to be moved remained. In response to the desperate situation, the Shepherd Society requested the additional grant funds, noting that with the current blockade by Israel of humanitarian aid, these supplies will be purchased as they become available.

Give financially in support of these grants at www.brethren.org/edf

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