Wars, economic depressions, and weather extremes can quickly turn food insecurity into acute hunger. Conflicts and displacement destroy homes, farms, and livelihoods, while struggling economies drive up food prices. Droughts, floods, and other disasters devastate crops and livestock, wiping out already limited sources of food. These crises leave families with an ever-growing struggle simply to find their next meal.
Mahire and his six children fled from their home because of war five years ago. They carried only the clothes on their backs, leaving behind their home and possessions. The family of seven found shelter in a large camp in Shire, Ethiopia. “Life becomes more difficult day by day,” Mahire explained. “Every day is filled with hardship and struggle. The food we receive [from the government] is often of such poor quality that it is not even suitable for animals, let alone human consumption.”
Mahire was overjoyed when our contacts gave him a food parcel. He said, “This means a lot to us. . . . Support like this provides temporary relief and helps ease hunger for a short time. However, what we truly want and hope for is to return to our home and our village. We have land and homes there, and we long to go back, work to support ourselves, and contribute to our country. But peace has not yet returned . . . . Until then, we continue to live in uncertainty and hardship, hoping for the day we can finally return home. Please pray for us.”
Eighty-year-old Hailu says, “Life in the [camp] is filled with hardship. The shelter does not protect us from the winter rains or the intense summer sun. Many days are spent with empty stomachs, waiting for a better tomorrow that seems slow to arrive. I would not wish this life on anyone.”
For families like Mahire’s and Hailu’s, a food parcel means more than relief from hunger. It is a tangible reminder that they are not forgotten. Through the gift of food, our contacts are able to meet physical needs while also offering encouragement to believers and sharing the hope of the Gospel with those who do not yet know Christ.
Would you like to join the effort to help provide food for the hungry in Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Ethiopia, Haiti, South Sudan, Ukraine, Venezuela, Yemen, and other places? Please click Donate to give a gift.
