Written by: INcontext International
Article source: www.incontextinternational.org

A state of emergency has been called in the African nation of Madagascar. Over a million people are experiencing severe food insecurity in the southern regions, as the country confronts its worst famine in 40 years.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has only been able to provide rations of rice, legumes, and vegetable oil to 750,000 of the 1.35 million people who need food assistance. Communities have experienced a depletion of food sources, including the vital cactus plant, in the fifth consecutive year of drought.

Late rains have ruined local crops, destroying the livelihoods of many Malagasy people. Frequent sandstorms cover farmland, killing livestock and indigenous vegetation.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported: “The lean season is expected to begin earlier than usual for the current consumption year, as households will deplete their low food stocks due to minimal production.” Families in the most southern regions have resorted to foraging for wild foods, including leaves, termites, roots, and locusts. People have also resorted to eating a mixture of clay and tamarind (a sweet and tangy pulp) to stave off the hunger.

According to the Senior director of the WFP Amer Daoudi, the Malagasy children in the area, especially those under the age of five, are in extreme danger of starvation. The UN has reported that Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) figures for this age range have almost doubled from 9% to 16.5%. Some of the more impacted districts, including Ambovombe, are reporting numbers as high as 27%.

The people are looking to their government for assistance, but Madagascar is one of Africa’s poorest countries. Poverty rates in Madagascar are among the highest in the world, and most people live in rural villages. IPC projects that the number of people suffering from acute food insecurity will double during this upcoming lean period, amounting to 2.7 million people. The WFP will need $75 million to cover emergency provisions for the next six months.

From a Christian perspective, the crisis in Madagascar should not provoke fear or trepidation in the hearts of believers. Scripture says that disaster and war will grow more prevalent as the world advances along God’s timeline. In Matthew 24, Jesus speaks to His disciples and warns them of what to expect. Verse 7 says: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” The question then remains, what is the role of the Church in such times?

The answer can be found in the same chapter. Jesus tells His disciples that they “must be ready” (verse 44). Therefore, the global Church must also be prepared. Each of these crises mentioned in Scripture is an opportunity for the Church to flesh out the compassion of Christ, and in so doing, open a way for the gospel.

Preparedness in times of natural disasters and conflict, will allow believers to respond to those in need, not only in practical terms, but also spiritually, with the Gospel. According to the Joshua Project, the evangelical annual growth rate in Madagascar is 3.5%, which is higher than the average global rate of 2.6%. The local Church is experiencing encouraging growth. However, it is important to note that despite roughly 50% of the population professing to be Christian, OM’s Madagascar profile estimates that only 10% of the population truly knows Christ.

There is still much work to be done. The responsibility of the global Church is to encourage the Malagasy Church to remain steadfast through this extremely difficult time, and to assist them where they can. It is vital to take hands with those on the ground as this crisis can be a catalyst for spiritual awakening in the country, and an opportunity to provide a hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Please pray with us for the following

  • For the physical and spiritual needs of all those affected by the famine
  • For the local Church to be strengthened through this trial
  • For this crisis to be an opportunity for the Church to demonstrate Christ’s compassion, and an opening for the gospel to spread through the nation

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Date published: 26/05/2021
Feature image: Image for illustrative purposes only. www.incontextinternational.org

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