South Africa (MNN) — Terrible floods struck the South African city of Durban and the surrounding region, killing at least 435 people. People continue searching the debris for their loved ones. Over 40,000 lost their homes.
Christian World Outreach saw one of their buildings damaged in the flood, says Greg Yoder. “In the ministry Single Moms Raising Sons, part of that ministry is doing Bible studies with single moms. And one specific home where some of our Bible studies were being held I know was severely damaged in the flooding.”
“We actually are trying to figure out ways to help some of these single moms, who were already struggling, to get through another disaster.”
The South African Army has deployed thousands of soldiers to find missing people and also rebuild damaged infrastructure. Yoder says, “We just started up a program using old tires to start some gardens in these limited spaces these ladies have. It’s sad to see those are washed away already. Ladies were working with their sons on a project together that would help feed them, and that’s even gone.”
The floods started after what survivors described as “Sheet upon sheet” of rainfall. The storm delivered almost one year’s worth of rainfall in 48 hours to the region. It’s the latest in a trend of increasingly severe weather events across Africa.
How to help
Christian World Outreach typically holds camps for boys in this region, but those have been canceled to concentrate on aid for the families. You can get involved by donating here.
Pray these families would get enough food and adequate shelter in the days ahead. And ask God to comfort the survivors of this disaster.
The header photo shows a map of the heaviest rainfall. (Photo courtesy of NASA – NASA Earth Observatory, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
