Natural disasters—such as floods, earthquakes, fires, pandemics, and extreme weather—can occur unexpectedly, causing significant damage to communities and their houses. They can cause the displacement of thousands of individuals and increase economic instability. In the hill areas, houses collapse, and main roads get blocked due to landslides. The local government cannot reach everyone in need while displacement camps don’t have enough space to accommodate everyone for one to two weeks.

Our local mission teams respond by delivering immediate humanitarian assistance to those affected by natural disasters. This process often includes working with local village leaders to manage the distribution of essential supplies such as tents, blankets, grocery kits, toiletries, and cash assistance to those who need it.

Recently, we aided flood victims in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Tripura by distributing grocery kits, clothing, toiletries, and blankets. In the past, we also extended aid to families affected by slum fires in Mumbai, where 3,000 families faced significant hardships.

Mumbai Fires: A Helping Hand

On March 13, 2023, a significant fire incident occurred in the Malad slum area of Mumbai. Reports from our local ministry associate indicate that over 1000 huts were destroyed in the blaze, resulting in homelessness for more than 3000 individuals and causing three fatalities. Among those affected are approximately 150 Christian families from 15 different house churches. In response, our local coordinator has established a relief booth to provide essential items such as drinking water, mats, utensils, buckets, toiletries, and grocery kits to those who have lost their possessions.

Floods: Helping Those in Need

Floods are the most prevalent natural disaster in India. The southern region of India, being proximal to the sea, experiences rainfall earlier and for a longer duration than the northern region. Southern India, bordered by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, is periodically affected by cyclones and typhoons during the monsoon season.

It is important to acknowledge that floods are not exclusive to Southern India, as other regions of the country also encounter similar challenges. The specific combination of heavy rainfall, topography, and other contributing factors makes Southern India particularly susceptible to these events.

Pandemic Relief (India):

The population most impacted by the Covid crisis includes daily-wage workers and their families, who often live day-to-day. A typical labor family of three or four earns an average of less than $6 per day. Many families experienced food shortages as their income sources were reduced due to the near cessation of many cottage industries. Similarly, many rural church pastors faced financial difficulties, as they were unable to hold church gatherings for seven months following the lockdown in March 2020. Rural church pastors typically rely on weekly offerings of raw rice, vegetables, grain, and tithes brought to church on Sundays. They have limited capacity to conduct online worship services or receive online offerings due to technological constraints.

During covid months, we provided one-time financial assistance to hundreds of pastor families facing economic difficulties in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Chhattisgarh. Each family received monetary gifts ranging from $100 to $400, based on their individual needs.

Additionally, we supplied nourishment and essential items to over 3,000 families suffering from food insecurity, ensuring provisions that would sustain them for at least two weeks. In certain locations, our ministry teams were able to pray with recipients, offering spiritual encouragement and fostering hope in God.

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