Before the conflict reached their homes, these women and their families were doing alright for themselves. Many had small businesses selling charcoal, clothing, tobacco, or other supplies. Others were farmers, and most owned some animals. Then the war split their country in two and changed their lives forever. The people gathered for the food distribution all had similar stories. Some had spent all their savings to flee the country, while others left behind their belongings in the flight. Their homes have now been pillaged or destroyed, and they have nothing left. Today, they find themselves in a foreign land as refugees, “depending on God and others” for their daily food and living with extended family, as squatters, or in overcrowded rented rooms

Before the conflict reached their homes, these women and their families were doing alright for themselves. Many had small businesses selling charcoal, clothing, tobacco, or other supplies. Others were farmers, and most owned some animals.

Then the war split their country in two and changed their lives forever. The people gathered for the food distribution all had similar stories. Some had spent all their savings to flee the country, while others left behind their belongings in the flight. Their homes have now been pillaged or destroyed, and they have nothing left. Today, they find themselves in a foreign land as refugees, "depending on God and others" for their daily food and living with extended family, as squatters, or in overcrowded rented rooms.

World Renew is responding to this crisis. It is providing millet to 300 refugee families who have fled and are now living in a neighboring country*. In addition to a three-month supply of millet, World Renew is providing each family with two goats and some goat feed. 

“Having goats will enable us to start our herd again,” stated Fanta*, one of the women at the distribution, “and when we return, we won’t be returning empty-handed.”

Fanta was a businesswoman. She would often travel to the capital to buy clothes and return to her hometown to sell them. She had just returned with a large amount of merchandise to be distributed to local vendors when the fighting began. "For ten days there was heavy fighting. No one could leave their homes, even though we didn't have enough food or water and there was no electricity." After ten days of fighting she fled Gao with her brothers and sisters and their children, leaving behind her merchandise, her home and the life she knew.

Now Fanta and her three children, along with her siblings and their children (thirteen people in total), live in a small two-room apartment. "It's a shocking and terrible experience to leave your nice home and to live in such small living quarters with so many other people, not knowing where you will get food for the day." 

Even if there is peace and Fanta and her family are able to return, she will not be able to return to the life she once led. Her house was destroyed by the war, her savings are lost due to the closing of her bank, and her capital disappeared when those who were to resell her merchandise were also forced to flee. But she is looking forward to the arrival of goats. Her ethnic group, the Tuaregs, love animals and goat milk is a common part of their diet. Fanta is hopeful that the goats will provide them with income and access to food until they are able to return home again.

"Suffering is at our door," one woman at the distribution said. But another looked over to the stack of millet bags and said, "It is as if the millet, this relief, fell from the sky." World Renew is thankful for the support of donors and churches that has made it possible to provide food to eat and hope for the future to so many refugees.

To read more about this ongoing project or to donate online, click here. 

* Last names and the names of specific locations have been withheld to protect the safety and security of World Renew staff and beneficiaries in the region