A Salvation Army response to flooding in Nigeria has received a positive response from beneficiaries and excellent coverage in the local media. The floods affected several council areas around the capital city, Lagos.
More than 500 families (over 3,000 people) were assisted, with funds provided through International Emergency Services, which is based at The Salvation Army's International Headquarters in London. Each family received enough food for a month and non-food items including clothes, babywear, wellington boots, slippers and toiletries. The total relief effort cost about US$60,000.
The internally displaced people and local government officials were thankful to The Salvation Army and its donors. They were particularly grateful for the way in which everyone had been treated with dignity. One local newspaper reported that The Salvation Army 'appeared on the scene like a matador and wrestled the bull of deprivation to submission, giving these people a new lease of life'.
The emergency response moved on to the city of Ibana, around 100 miles to the north, where 2,000 people have been displaced by floods and more than 100 have lost their lives.
Comment
On Friday, September 30, 2011, John Umasanthiram said:
You are doing great work. Keep up the good work. Where there is a need, there is The Salvation Army. We praise God for the many committed people who are willing to give their time, talent and money to help when people are in need. The motto and the spirit of The Salvation Army is the same all over the world. God bless you.
“Every opportunity of telling our story and strengthening the mutual understanding between International Headquarters and the Canada and Bermuda Territory is welcomed and celebrated.”
In recent months, our team in the mission department at territorial headquarters (THQ)—which includes corps mission, community mission and social mission—has been hearing me chant the phrase, “We Are Mission!” as a rallying cry. While also trying to have a bit of fun, my hope is that this powerful mantra captures The
John Umasanthiram
Indonesia