CHICAGO, IL (January 3, 2008) – Covenant World Relief (CWR) funds already are at work in responding to the humanitarian crisis in Kenya, says director Jim Sundholm.
World Relief International (WRI) is using $25,000 of CWR seed money to help Kenyan churches provide food, water and shelter to thousands of displaced people in the African nation, where political unrest along tribal lines has deteriorated into chaos following disputed presidential elections.
World Relief International (WRI) is using $25,000 of CWR seed money to help Kenyan churches provide food, water and shelter to thousands of displaced people in the African nation, where political unrest along tribal lines has deteriorated into chaos following disputed presidential elections.
WRI representatives in the country have described the situation as “Rwandalike,” with beheadings, rape, and torture being reported. More than 100,000 individuals are estimated to have left their homes and at least 300 people have been killed, according to government and international observers. At least 35 of the fatalities occurred when a mob set fire to a church in which men, women and children had sought sanctuary.
CWR is the international humanitarian aid and development arm of the Evangelical Covenant Church. WRI uses CWR money to immediately respond to needs following a disaster, while other relief agencies begin ramping up their responses.