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Once again the generosity of Presbyterians to famine and disaster situations around the world has been demonstrated by the donation of £270,000 for famine relief in Southern Africa and particularly Malawi.
This money, raised by direct donation to the Overseas Board specifically for Malawi, and in response to an appeal by the Moderator Dr Russell Birney more generally for help in Southern Africa has been distributed to Tearfund and Christian Aid and also directly to the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (CCAP).
Responding to the amount raised the Moderator commented, " I never fail to be amazed at the generosity of people in Ireland to those in difficulty around the world. That is shown in many ways through people working overseas, their informed interest in and prayer for difficult situations and of course through direct financial giving."
The Presbyterian Church has had a long historical involvement with the central African state of Malawi and money donated directly to the Presbyterian Overseas Board has been sent to synods of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in the Blantyre, Livingstonia and Nkhoma areas of Malawi.
"Malawi has declared a National Food Disaster and we are told that around 80% of farming families had no food in the early part of this year," explains Uel Marrs, secretary to the Presbyterian Overseas Board. "Church officials in Livingstonia are reporting that it will take Malawi over two years to recover from this crisis with some 3.2 million people requiring aid. The situation is made worse by the fact that the 2002-2003 crop season has generally been poor with a further shortfall of maize expected."
"The money that we are sending to Malawi is not just being used in the short term to provide immediate relief. The local church is also focusing on mid and long term solutions which will prevent people from becoming reliant on handouts by achieving longer term goals of food security and self reliance," continue Uel Marrs.
At present the Presbyterian Church has around 16 personnel in Malawi working alongside the local church in educational, medical, agricultural and community development programmes.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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