Thousands of displaced families to receive life-saving food and supplies amid a growing civil war
Samaritan’s Purse is rushing food and hygiene items to displaced families who are struggling for survival in makeshift camps in Bangui, the volatile capital of the Central African Republic.
Help Victims of ViolenceEscalating battles between warring militias have forced more than 800,000 people from their homes in the nation still reeling from a coup that toppled the government in 2013. Seeking protection, tens of thousands of people have flooded Bangui, where troops with the United Nations and the African Union patrol the streets, supported by tanks.One sprawling camp beside the Bangui airport has swelled to more than 30,000 people and continues to expand.
Samaritan’s Purse is working with an alliance of evangelical churches to provide food and hygiene items to nearly 5,000 displaced people.
“Our intervention in Bangui will be life-saving for those who have been affected by this conflict,” said a Samaritan’s Purse manager who oversees projects in the region. “The Central African Republic is often overlooked, but this is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today, similar to tragedies in Syria and South Sudan in terms of size and the number of people affected. We are thankful to be able to partner with the church to save lives and help people in great need.”
Many of these church partners have participated in Operation Christmas Child shoebox gift distributions to more than 360,000 children in the country since 2005.
Distributions of food and emergency supplies are scheduled to continue through July, and may be expanded if camp populations continue to grow.
