The crucial role of the church in humanitarian response work

Rebuilding lives

When an earthquake measuring 7.8 struck Syria in 2023, Fadi, his wife and two young children fled, taking cover in a cemetery away from tall buildings. Across the region, 62,013 people were killed.

‘No words could describe the fear we experienced,’ Fadi recalls. Then Tearfund’s partner, the Evangelical Alliance Church, welcomed them and gave them food, blankets, and medical care. The church helped them settle back home safely by having engineers check if there was any danger of the building collapsing.

Compassion in a crisis

Among the stories our teams reported more recently was one of 32-year-old Juliette from Burundi after floods demolished 19,250 homes there. ‘Our house was destroyed and utensils were taken by rainwater,’ she told us. ‘It was hard for me and my mother to be evacuated because of my disability and her age.’

Without the timely response of our local church partners, Juliette would have been left with nothing. Our local partners provided Juliette and her mother with emergency supplies, including hygiene kits and cash to buy nutritious food. They also supported local host families, who gave shelter to their neighbours at this time.

‘Thank God that our neighbours rushed to help us and that they sheltered us until today,’ says Juliette.

Shelter and refuge in a storm

Climate change isn't some far-off threat for Reverend Monimohon Roy and his community in Bangladesh. It's everyday life. ‘Floods have increased, river erosion has increased... the natural balance has been disrupted,’ he says.

Reverend Monimohon Roy’s church has become a refuge during disasters. ‘During cyclones, all the people of this community come to the church for shelter.’ His church is growing and he’s got big plans. ‘I have a dream of building a two-storey church building here.’

And it's not just about bricks and mortar. Since taking part in Tearfund’s Transforming Communities training, Reverend Monimohon has noticed something special happening. ‘There has been a spiritual change, and people in the community are helping each other more,’ he says.

In a place where climate disasters can tear communities apart, people are coming together instead.

Equipping local churches

‘Local churches are playing a vital role in responding to humanitarian emergencies around the world. They can quickly mobilise volunteers, reach remote communities, and care for their communities in ways external agencies are not always able to,’ says Veena O’Sullivan, Tearfund’s International Director.

'We are honoured to play a part in equipping these local churches. Please join us in prayer for our local church partners who are putting God's love into action and providing support to some of the most vulnerable people.

Please pray for our local church partners.