Colombian MB churches assist flood survivors

MCC is responding to needs through MB church partners

Compiled by Rachel Bergen

Intense rainfall October 17-21, 2016, caused severe flooding along Colombia’s Pacific coast in Chocó Province, seriously damaging the homes of more than 20,000 people.

In Chocó Province—which is in northwestern Colombia adjacent to Panama—Mennonite Brethren churches are present in three regions most heavily affected by flooding in the province: Condoto, Medio San Juan and Novita.

Carlos Andres Palacios Lozano, a member of Sión MB Church, is deeply affected by the flooding. Lozano lives and works in the community of Suruco, Chocó, with his wife and two children. Suruco is a town only accessible by boat from the San Juan River.

Lozano recalls that at around 1 a.m. on Oct. 19, heavy rains caused the river to quickly overflow, flooding his home and entire community.

“We have become accustomed to the rising and flooding of the river,” he says, “but it had never flooded to this magnitude before.”

Lozano and his family live in one of the areas farthest from the river, but even there the water reached the house. He was able to save his chickens from drowning, but other people in the area, some of whom depend upon the sale of chickens and eggs for their livelihood, lost them all. Damage extended to other sources of food and income, destroying crops and a community fish farm.

Local food stores were flooded and Lozano says he couldn’t go to neighboring towns because the river was impassable.

As the floodwaters receded, the church, a Mennonite Central Committee partner, began responding with its own resources to the needs of those affected by serving soup to the community.

MCC is responding to the basic needs of those affected by providing humanitarian assistance through the Mennonite Brethren churches in Chocó to 500 families in 11 rural communities who have lost everything.

Families will receive a package of nonperishable food items to last two weeks, including rice, pasta, oatmeal, canned tuna, lentils and maize flour. They will also receive blankets, a mattress and kitchen supplies.

Despite the losses they have sustained, many in the community are playing an active role in responding to the victims and looking for ways to prevent future damage by flooding. Pastor Jesus “Jabez” Benitez, of Bebedó MB Church, lost many of his belongings when his home in Andagoya flooded to the second level.

“After the floods,” he says, “[many] people were without hope, without anything. People didn’t just lose homes, but also their crops and agriculture, many appliances, mattresses and more.”

The MCC assistance will help, but according to Benitez, “the disaster, the danger, isn’t over.”

Since October, the San Juan and its tributaries have flooded homes in some of the communities closest to its banks twice more, and people continue to struggle as they lose their homes, sources of food and income. In order to respond to these pressing and ongoing needs, continual prayer and further resources are needed.

To support MCC’s relief work, visit mcc.org/learn/what/relief. Mennonite Central Committee is an inter-Mennonite agency that focuses on providing relief, development and peace in the name of Christ.

MCC photo by Brendah Ndagire: Despite having suffered water damage of his own, Jesus “Jabez” Benitez, (in the green vest,) pastor of Bebedó MB Church, was part of a delegation who assessed the damage in Bebedó, Chocó, Colombia.