Sudan has long been one of the largest refugeehosting countries in Africa, receiving an estimated one million refugees, including 800,000 people who have fled violence in neighbouring South Sudan. On April 15, 2023, Sudan faced its own crisis when violence escalated within its borders, bringing destruction and disruption to its infrastructure, including hospitals and markets. As a result, refugee and local-resident families alike faced rising levels of disease and hunger.
It is estimated that more than 5 million people in Sudan have abandoned their homes to escape the violence: 2.2 million are now internally displaced, and nearly 3 million have sought refuge in neighbouring countries. This includes 700,000 people who crossed into South Sudan—many of whom had previously fled to Sudan seeking refuge. This influx of people into South Sudan has escalated the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Sadly, this growing disaster has received minimal attention in the media.
Aweil East is a region in South Sudan that has received numerous South Sudanese returnees and Sudanese refugees. In August 2023, World Renew, through a peer organization, ZOA Netherlands, and with funding support from Canadian Foodgrains Bank, started a six-month cash-for-food distribution project focused on addressing the food security of the most vulnerable families in Aweil East.
Malual Apath, 70, and his family are residents of Aweil East. His community has felt the ripple effects of the Sudanese conflict. Not only did the influx of people
into the region put a strain on resources, but many households in South Sudan had relied on imports from Sudan—which became increasingly difficult to access with the escalation of violence.
Malual, like many in his community, could not obtain the tools and seeds he needed for his farm, and, as a result, his production levels and income plummeted, and his family began to struggle with increasing hunger. As his hunger increased, Malual found it difficult to do the labour-intensive farming he relied on to survive. He felt there was no hope to escape hunger. He became relieved, however, when his family qualified for the cash-for-food distribution project. After receiving the first round of cash in March 2024, Malual began to experience renewed hope. He used some of the $205 (CAD) he received to purchase a 90kg bag of sorghum, a popular grain used for cooking in South Sudan.
“At least I have enough to purchase sugar and cereals for my family to eat twice a day. I am becoming stronger now and will begin working on my farm again,” he said.
Nearly 2,000 families have benefitted from monthly cash distributions through this project. Generosity like yours allows World Renew and Canadian Foodgrains Bank to support families like Malual’s struggling with hunger in the face of crises not covered by the media. Together, we can extend Christ’s mercy and love through projects like this one. Thank you for walking alongside us to help end global hunger.
Ending Hunger Around the World
Highlights of how your gifts are helping share Christ’s hope this year
A Refugee Family Finds Welcome
Haiti In Haiti, 69,000 children struggling with malnutrition and medical complications are benefitting from a program focused on improving nutrition.
Gaza
Over 20,900 conflict-affected people in Gaza received cash support for food and other essentials.
Bangladesh
In Teknaf, a region in Bangladesh impacted by the influx of refugees, 18,800 people are participating in a program focused on improving food security.
Ethiopia
4,870 orphans and vulnerable children in Ethiopia received cash for food, as well as medical and psychological support, an increase of 3,750 over last year.
South Sudan
14,000 people who fled to South Sudan to escape violence in Sudan have benefitted from distributions of cash, seeds, and tools.
To escape conflict, violence or persecution, people often have no choice but to leave their homeland and live as refugees. The United Nations estimates that there are 43.4 million refugees worldwide. Some have sought refuge in countries where they struggle to survive; finding employment, housing, and welcome are just some of the challenges they face.
Ten years ago, Yasmine* and her family fled the civil war in Syria and settled in Lebanon. “In this exile away from our home country, it feels like we are only surviving. We hope for a better future for us and our children,” says Yasmine.
Until the war ends and her family’s dream to return to Syria is realized, Yasmine is grateful for the support they have been receiving through World Renew’s local Christian church partner and Canadian Foodgrains Bank. She says, “[My husband] studied to become an electrician through the vocational training provided by the church, where he got to know brother David.”
Yasmine shares, “[David] always supplies us with whatever is available, whether food baskets, winter clothes, hygiene supplies, milk and diapers. Two years ago, he got us an electrical heater which we are still using. Last year he also got us a mattress and a light, and today I received vouchers for gas for heating.”
The family of eleven is Muslim and includes Yasmine, her husband, their four children, and her husband’s other wife and their children. The demographic landscape of Lebanon is predominantly Muslim, and polygamy is legal for men, so Yasmine appreciates that, despite religious and cultural differences, the church embraces her family. She says, “I am especially thankful for people like brother David, who helps us in everything. Thanks to people like him, I know that I am not alone. They welcome us and show us respect. They don’t differentiate between Muslims and Christians.”
*Name has been changed to protect identity
Working Together to Flourish
In 1804, Haiti threw off French colonial control and slavery to become the world’s first black-led republic and the first independent Caribbean state. But Haiti’s story of resilience is often forgotten amidst the news of political and economic instability, gang violence, and the impacts of natural disasters.
Fifty percent of the Haitian population is food insecure. In the last year, escalating gang violence has displaced an estimated 578,000 people, shut down 40 percent of health facilities, and closed 900 schools. The schools have become temporary shelters where families sleep cramped together on flattened cardboard boxes, holding on to what little they managed to take with them as they fled the violence. The gangs that forced them out of their homes now control an estimated 80 percent of the capital city, Port au Prince. But life in Haiti isn’t only about violence and hardship.
While Port au Prince is severely affected by gang violence, other communities are more removed from the conflict. In these communities, people go about their lives, greeting neighbours, enjoying the beauty of the island, and seizing opportunities to offer support. Konbit is the practice of a group of rural farmers coming together to work on one farm to help. The group of farmers then move on to the next farm, working the land together, and so on. But Konbit has come to mean more; it is the spirit of togetherness and resilience in the face of crisis that lives in the souls of the Haitian people.
Amidst the turmoil of hurricanes and earthquakes, gang violence, and rising hunger, Haitians remain resilient. Corstiaan Van Aalsburg, World Renew Latin America Regional Director, shared: “At international conferences you always know which is the table of Haitians because that’s the table with laughter and jokes.” But Corstiaan notes that while the resilience of the Haitian people is admirable, they should not have to be constantly resilient.
World Renew has been working in Haiti since 1975, often with the support of Canadian Foodgrains Bank. For the past 18 months, the World Renew Haiti team has been without a leader, but in the spirit of Konbit, they continued to stick together, working under arduous conditions. World Renew has recently hired Kristie van de Wetering, who brings a wealth of experience to the role of Country Director in Haiti. Kristie is excited to share Christ’s hope with the people of Haiti. Please keep the people of Haiti, Kristie, and the World Renew Haiti team in your prayers.
World Renew
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A Message of Hope
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” – Romans 12:18
Haiti, Sudan, and Syria, are just three of more than 90 countries currently engaged in conflict. As a humanitarian organization and a member of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, World Renew does not pick a side in any conflict—humanitarian law dictates we remain neutral, and we live out our mission to extend God’s hope to all people struggling with hunger—whenever we are able to, without exception.
For many Canadians, the realities of living in a war zone may be difficult to imagine, from the struggle to find food to the ongoing fear of physical harm. But the fallouts of conflict go beyond risks to immediate survival. Conflict can result in long-term economic devastation, an uptick in human trafficking, debilitating psychological scarring, the displacement of entire communities, and more.
When we reflect on the conflict-induced famine in Gaza or sexual violence against women in Democratic Republic of the Congo, we may think there is nothing we can do. But we can pray for God’s peace to reign, and through our gifts, we can extend his love to those caught in the crossfire of violence. Food baskets and cash transfers are two ways World Renew and Canadian Foodgrains Bank use gifts like yours to support families impacted by conflict. It may not feel like much, but to the families receiving this support, it is a glimmer of hope in the despair that conflict can ignite. Thank you!
