BWAid helps Congolese after volcanic eruption

Baptist World Aid (BWAid), the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, has made initial emergency grants of $30,000 to help those who have fled the volcanic eruption of Mt. Nyiragongo, Rwanda.

In an urgent request to BWAid, Faustin Bashaka, the general secretary of the Baptist Association in Rwanda (AEBR) said that many fleeing the eruption had crossed the border at Gisenyi, Rwanda, and were seeking shelter in Baptist buildings. He had spoken on the phone with one Congolese Baptist leader who reported that his Baptist headquarters, secondary and primary schools had been buried by the lava.

The emergency grant will be used to purchase food and cooking utensils to assist the 856 families who have sought shelter in Baptist buildings in Rwanda.

However, with many thousands of people on the move, more funds will be needed to help those who have been made homeless.

Mt. Nyiragongo is one of Africa’s most active volcanoes, and one of eight along the border between Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. The cities of Goma in Congo and Gisenyi in Rwanda are twin cities on the edge of Lake Kivu.

Goma is the base for two Baptist communities in Congo, the Union of Baptist Churches in Central Africa and the Union of Baptist Churches in Congo. Over the border in Rwanda, both the Baptist Association and the Baptist Union have work in the Gisenyi area.

This area of Africa has suffered greatly in recent years from manmade and natural disasters. In 1994 the genocide in Rwanda led to hundreds of thousands fleeing from Rwanda to Congo. In 1996 the area was invaded by Rwandan forces, and since then has mainly been under the control of Rwanda.

“We are possibly on the verge of an enormous catastrophe,” indicated BWAid director Paul Montacute. “Many people already undernourished and living in abject poverty, have now fled once again. Our Baptist communities in this part of Congo and Rwanda will need our support for many months ahead as they seek to bring relief.”

For information, call 703-790-8980 or e-mail  BWAid@bwanet.org.                 

(BWA)