World Renew Assists Survivors of Violence in Niger
On January 16, the long legacy of relative peace between the 90-99 percent of Niger’s Muslim population and the small Christian population was broken by widespread attacks on churches, buildings, and homes belonging to Christians.
This wave of violence came in the aftermath of a Jan. 7 attack by two Islamist gunmen who opened fire in the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine located in Paris, France.
Twelve people were killed and several injured. Shortly after this tragedy, Mahamadou Issoufou, the President of Niger, traveled to France to demonstrate his solidarity with the people of France. Around this time Charlie Hebdo published a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed.
In alleged retaliation for these events, on January 16 and 17, in several cities, towns and the capital of Niger, large groups of young men began attacking churches, bars, French-owned businesses, and some buildings of the President’s party.
Churches, Christian schools, and pastors’ homes, and property of Christians were looted and then burned.
Many families fled for their lives with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Many Muslim neighbors made efforts to protect their Christian friends, including 12 friends of a pastor’s son who formed a human chain and held back a mob of at least 100 people. Amazingly, no Christians were killed.
It is estimated that 70 churches, 63 homes, five Christian schools, one orphanage, and one mission’s office were attacked.
The two churches in Niamey that World Renew partners with were among those that were looted and ransacked. In various cities and towns, the French cultural center and other buildings and businesses connected to Christians or French interests were also targeted.
One missionary recounts an attack on an elderly couple in their living room in Zinder.
“Assailants came in and started smashing things and stealing their possessions right before the couple’s eyes,” said the missionary.
“The two retreated into their bedroom, where they stayed while their home was set on fire. They would have surely suffocated but a burly Muslim neighbor rescued them by breaking open a metal-shuttered window and carrying them to safety.”
Even though, at last report, the violence itself had subsided in Niger, many men, women, and children in Niger are still suffering after losing so much.
Within days of the crisis, World Renew was able to provide funds to the families in need so they could purchase food, cooking utensils, bedding, and other essential household items.
Beneficiaries of this immediate response included two families in Niamey staying with church partners and all 37 of the families in the Zinder region that lost their homes and primary businesses.
Through funding from International Christian Concern, World Renew was also able to provide nine families in the capital just over $200 each; they had lost everything but had not yet received help from other sources.
In addition to meeting the urgent needs of families, World Renew is planning a long-term response through local partners. This response will help families rebuild or refurbish their homes. It will also involve training 50 people to lead individual and group trauma healing sessions for survivors.
Since World Renew was able to immediately mobilize funds, it was one of the first organizations to respond to the crisis in Niger. The support of donors makes all the difference in equipping World Renew to respond quickly and effectively in times of disaster.
Support World Renew's West Africa response in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria - give today! Your support is a powerful and tangible way to walk alongside God’s children in West Africa as they rebuild and recover.
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