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Native missionaries are working to provide relief aid in Mozambique as the nation faces famine after receiving no rain since January, according to one of the first missionary agencies to support and promote indigenous mission groups.
Christian Aid, which has long supported several indigenous mission groups in the drought-stricken nation, reported Thursday that native gospel workers are helping transport grain to starving villagers as the recent drought has reportedly affected over one million people in southern and central Mozambique.
"They work in areas that are remote and miserable even under normal conditions,” said Rae Burnett, Christian Aid's Africa director.
According to Christian Aid, "normal" for Mozambique has meant poverty for years. A history of wars and natural disasters has left the sub-Saharan country crippled. Meanwhile, outside food aid has been slow to reach its people because, according to some sources, most of it is sold rather than distributed freely.
“The poor have no money to buy, so they go hungry,” Christian Aid reported.
Worsening the situation is the lack of proper means for transporting food to the south and central parts of Mozambique, the ministry added. Roads are reportedly inadequate and trucking companies almost non-existent.
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Such obstacles have put many Mozambicans on a downward spiral since 2002's devastating drought, one of the worst in its history.
“The latest rain shortage exacerbates already desperate circumstances,” Christian Aid stated.
According to the ministry, native gospel workers were quick to help in the past, and they are ready to do so again. However, Christian Aid noted that the workers must travel by foot up to a week to reach the remotest villages and that the amount of grain they can carry on their backs or bicycles does not go very far among starving villagers.
"Any help we send them would be wonderful," said Burnett, "especially help purchasing 4-wheel drive vehicles and gasoline to run them. Traveling by foot makes it impossible to carry the amount of food needed."
Christian Aid is asking believers to pray for the people of Mozambique as they suffer through another disaster.
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