Collaborative Anabaptist response to DR Congo crisis
Mennonite World Conference has convened an inter-Anabaptist task force to respond to the current humanitarian crisis in the Eastern part of DRC arising from events of the past weeks.
“We invite your donations to any of our partners to support their response to this urgent need,” says César García, MWC general secretary.
Partners reached a consensus that Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) will take the lead in the response, leveraging their expertise in relief and development.”
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM), Mennonite Church Canada Witness, Mennonite Mission Network and Multiply are at the table.
“We are deprived of the Bibles, water, soaps and even food. We are soliciting the accompaniment of your prayers and materials.”
Representative of youth organization
Mennonite Brethren Church in Bukavu
MWC extends the invitation to all Anabaptist agencies working in the region to join the coordinated response. “We want to work in a cooperative and collaborative way,” says César García.
MWC member church Communauté des Églises des Frères Mennonites au Congo (CEFMC, Mennonite Brethren) has 34 congregations with more than 4,000 members in the region. At time of writing, CEFMC reports 600 families from their congregations are among the tens of thousands displaced.
Some of the people fleeing the violence are staying in camps in the region. Some have fled to other parts of the country where CEFMC, Communauté Evangélique Mennonite, Communauté Mennonite au Congo and Communauté Mennonite de Kinshasa congregations are offering assistance.
Some have evacuated to nearby countries such as Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania where other Mennonites have been able to provide support.
“The situation requires an urgent response but also a multi-year plan,” says Annie Loewen, MCC interim disaster response director. Food, shelter and hygiene supplies are critical needs now. Over the longer term, trauma healing resource and supplies to restore households will be needed.
“We want to react swiftly to the needs of people in the region, but our response must be coordinated with other partners, to build on each others’ strengths and create synergies,” says Doug Hiebert, Multiply regional team leader for Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Interdependent coordination between international agencies and local churches is crucial for long-term peacebuilding,” says Tigist Tesfaye, Deacons Commission secretary. “Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters. Our solidarity in prayer is a key part of our response as an Anabaptist family.”
Top photo: In 2020, people worship at a Sunday service at Community of Mennonite Brethren Churches in Congo (CEFMC; Communaute des Eglises de Freres Mennonites au Congo) in Bukavu. MCC photo/Matthew Lester