(Juba) – The Church of the Brethren has allocated major emergency grants to humanitarian relief efforts in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), responding to worsening violence, displacement and climate challenges across the region.
The grants issued through the denomination’s Emergency Disaster Fund aim to assist vulnerable communities amid rising needs caused by conflict and natural disasters.
In South Sudan, the Church has committed $125,000 to support a new humanitarian response programme managed by the Church of the Brethren Mission. The programme is designed to help families displaced by armed conflict and natural disasters, particularly in Unity State.
The South Sudan initiative will provide emergency support to three groups: communities where Church of the Brethren congregations are located, internally displaced people still inside the country, and refugees who have fled to Uganda. The work is taking place in a context of increasing violence, political unrest, and climate extremes, including both flooding and drought.
Tensions in South Sudan escalated earlier this year following the arrest of political opposition figures by President Salva Kiir. Coupled with long-standing ethnic conflicts and economic instability, the crisis has driven more than 2.3 million people into neighbouring countries and displaced at least 2.2 million inside South Sudan. The humanitarian outlook remains severe, with over 7.7 million people – nearly 70% of the population – facing acute food shortages. Humanitarian operations have been further hindered by a cut in aid from the United States under the Trump administration.
In eastern DRC, the Church has issued an even larger grant of $258,600 to support emergency relief operations coordinated by the Eglise des Freres au Congo (Church of the Brethren in Congo). The six-month programme will deliver aid to families affected by the escalating conflict in North and South Kivu Provinces, as well as to thousands of Congolese refugees who have sought safety in neighbouring Burundi.
Fighting in the region intensified in January after the M23 rebel group entered the provincial capital of Goma. Backed by an estimated 3,000 Rwandan troops, M23 has expanded its operations, gaining control over several towns and sparking fears of a wider regional conflict. Casualties are high, and thousands have been displaced.
Since the start of the year, over 71,000 Congolese refugees have crossed into Burundi. Many are members of the Church of the Brethren or from vulnerable backgrounds. A recent Church delegation visited Musenyi Refugee Camp in Rutana Province, which now holds twice its intended capacity. The camp, operated by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), is located in flood-prone terrain and suffers from underfunding. Officials have warned that food supplies will run out by the end of June following the withdrawal of US aid.
The DRC relief programme will support 4,990 refugee households in Burundi and 1,000 households inside the DRC that include people with disabilities, orphans, widows and other vulnerable groups. The plan includes food and essential supplies for six months, as well as workshops on trauma recovery and gender-based violence awareness. Coordination is underway with the Burundi Church of the Brethren, UNHCR, the Burundi government and other humanitarian actors.
Both Church-led initiatives reflect the growing role of religious organisations in delivering humanitarian assistance in regions affected by crisis. The programmes not only provide direct relief but also focus on mental health support and protection for at-risk populations.
In a separate development, the Church also allocated $14,400 to support disaster recovery work in the United States following Hurricane Helene, which struck the southeastern region last September. While unrelated to Africa, this funding continues the Church’s broader commitment to global disaster relief.
Faith based initiatives like this one remain essential in South Sudan, where humanitarian needs continue to rise due to ongoing instability, . With traditional sources of aid under pressure or withdrawn, local and regional partnerships, such as those coordinated by the Church of the Brethren, are filling a critical gap in service delivery and community support.
More details and donation options can be found on the Church’s official emergency response page at www.brethren.org/edf.
