Democratic Republic of Congo (MNN) – Decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo have created the fourth-largest internally displaced persons crisis in the world.
Reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) say 6.3 million displaced persons live in the DRC.
The majority of these people live in East Congo, which includes Ituri Province, where Ben and Anna Samuelson serve as missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship.
Anna says it’s hard to put into words how the ongoing fighting has impacted people near their base in the city of Bunia.
(Photo courtesy of MAF)
“Everyone that you meet either has a story of being displaced, or probably has a displaced person living with them. It impacts everyone in our region so personally. There’s obviously such large-scale effects. But it’s also like every person is individually touched by violence and the instability there,” says Anna.
Mission Aviation Fellowship has served in the DRC for the past 63 years, providing transportation in a time and place where few things are certain.
Anna tells about a Congolese friend who had to turn around due to militia activity while trying to drive from Bunia to another town for her job.
“She said she was so thankful for MAF. She knew she could turn around and come on Monday on a flight, otherwise she would have had to keep going. She wouldn’t be able to charter a flight to get herself there. But she can get there safely because of the (MAF airbridge) shuttle.”
Ask God to bring stability to the DRC and the hope of Christ to those caught in the middle.
“We have these opportunities every single day that we work with airport officials, with passengers, with (air)strip agents, with whoever. Each of these are opportunities to be a light for Christ and to show the love of Christ in these situations,” says Ben.
“Each and every day, it’s the Lord’s work that is being done. And if the Lord is not working with us, then there’s not much that we can do. So (we’re) just trying in every chance to reflect all the praise to God in everything that we’re doing.”
Pray for wisdom, encouragement, and protection for the Samuelsons and the MAF team as they live in conflict-ridden East Congo.
Header and story images courtesy of MAF.
