Disasters of all kinds may strike in the areas where we work. Whether they are natural disasters or political conflicts, they have the potential to cause sudden death, destruction and suffering. Within the past few years, our ministries have experienced a tsunami spreading nuclear radiation in Japan, devastating famine in Niger, and the world’s worst cholera and Ebola virus epidemics in Sierra Leone. Extremely poor communities are particularly vulnerable to disasters due to factors such as fragile housing, limited resources to endure prolonged supply shortages, and lack of access to healthcare services.
When disaster strikes, Restore Hope mobilizes its staff and a network of partner organizations and churches to swiftly respond, provide relief, and work toward recovery. It is a beautiful sight to see a wide array of partners join together to help brothers and sisters survive and rebuild after enduring a large scale event. In such cases, we marshal resources, coordinate community-level responders, and target acute needs while offering prayer and spiritual counsel whenever possible.
The worst ever Ebola virus outbreak hit Sierra Leone in Summer 2014 causing thousands of deaths and bringing the economy of what was already one of the poorest countries in the world to a grinding halt. Restore Hope responded with a multi-faceted approach: Prevention through Education, Awareness and Sanitation; Humanitarian Aid; Orphan Care; and Community Surveillance and Contact Tracing. We had organized nearly a dozen Ebola Task Forces and provided aid to over twenty communities. We also provided shelter and care to children orphaned by the Ebola crisis. Thank you for your prayers and support.
