Muhabura receives 2nd Relief Fund Donation
Trustees of Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Winchester met today.
Mothers' Union members in Muhabura working in their fields in 2006
Among the news they shared was that members in our link Diocese of Muhubura are receiving a large number of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo. If you read the Muhabura link in our International pages above, you will know Mothers’ Union members there have very little to share, but they are trying hard to cater for the needs of this influx of refugees.
Staff at Mary Sumner House (Mothers’ Union head office in London) have now sent a second grant from the Mothers’ Union Relief Fund. This will enable members in Muhabura to provide for the needs of the refugees now being cared for in their communities.
Local Mothers’ Union groups are encouraged to raise funds to keep Relief Fund topped up with money that can be released instantly in response to emergency needs like these.
A Mothers' Union leader holds a malnourished baby among the Congolese refugees.
If you wish to make a donation direct to our Diocesan Office, please make cheques payable to ‘Mothers’ Union, Diocese of Winchester’ and send them to the address on our Contact page. If you are a UK taxpayer, please enclose a signed, dated note stating as much, and include your address and postcode. Thank you.
Further information received explains that when the initial influx of refugees arrived, Mothers’ Union members immediately supported the refugees from within their own resources, despite it being the season of food shortages.
The Mothers’ Union President in Muhabura wrote to Mothers’ Union head office saying:
“When the war in Congo erupted many people took refuge into the neighbouring homes just across the border. One family hosted over 40 people. This posed a challenge to the hosts in terms of feeding, sleeping and medical facilities. Children, adults and domestic animals crammed the little houses.”
It was for this situation that the recent Relief Fund grant was made to enable members in the most affected parishes in Muhabura to reach out to and feed more families with supplies of dry beans, potatoes, sugar and maize flour.