COVID-19 Crisis Response
Desperate people living in desolate locations have always been the most vulnerable. The people of South Omo, Ethiopia know this is true! COVID-19 placed them in even greater jeopardy! Having lived without clean water and the subsequent health risks, they are now in a desperate fight for their lives. Personal hygiene and proper protective equipment and supplies will be their only chance to survive the coming pandemic. They are our friends, family, and ministry focus. Help us get them the life-saving supplies they need.
These people, particularly the outlying rural villages and tribal areas where we serve, have limited to no adequate clean water, medical professionals, or facilities. The facilities are poorly equipped, unsanitary, with limited in capacity. We have served in this region through community partnerships providing literacy, clean water strategies, health and education programs, leadership development, and community events. We have built church buildings, a Bible School as well as other training facilities.
The COVID-19 crisis also has the potential to spark a food security crisis in South Omo, with agricultural production reduced, and food imports declining substantially due to a combination of the locust infestation that came earlier this year and reduced domestic productions.
The government reacted decisively to curb the potential influx and spread of the COVID-19, in line with WHO guidelines. However, several factors pose challenges to the containment and mitigation measures; no access to social media, washing hands is often an unaffordable luxury to half of the population who lack access to clean water and fragile health systems. Ultimately, the magnitude of the COVID-19 impact is incredibly high.
Urgent Needs
Now is the time to ensure that these wonderful people have the protections and supplies to guard them against COVID-19! Their isolation requires others to access supplies in major centres that can be transported over 700KM from Addis Ababa, the capital, to their villages. Then people will train them on proper handwashing, and personal hygiene methods to protect themselves. Something rarely done because of clean water shortages and no soap or disinfectants. Others will need to be isolated in make-shift medical facilities manned by volunteers. Everyone will be at risk!!!
This COVID-19 pandemic has prompted us to create a specific funding appeal to try and purchase as much equipment and supplies as possible. We want to do as much as we can for as many as we can, and your gift will extend the aid and protection we can provide.
Giving is a transformational moment! You will be helping to provide critical personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies to those who have none. Without which, COVID-19 will devastate the entire population in Ethiopia and particularly in South Omo, one of the remotest regions of the nation!
Thank You For Your Prayers & Support
Our goal is to raise $50,000 to help our local partners acquire as many masks, gowns, face guards, rubber gloves, thermometers, soap and other sanitizing/disinfecting supplies, clean water filtration systems, etc. as possible.
Our ministry is completely run by local and in-country volunteers. This helps keep administrative costs to a bare minimum to maximize the impact of your donation in the field!
Jesus spoke of the greatest commandment as being the commandment to love God and to love neighbor as yourself; we are learning through this crisis that every single one of us can contribute to spreading that love to help and protect the most vulnerable from the spread of COVID-19.
We treasure every gift and thank you in advance for helping us “Carry each other’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1
