More than 200 lives were lost during a recent ethno-religious attack; most of the victims were women and children.

DOGON NAHAWA, Nigeria – Chungdung’s life changed forever in a single, tragic night.

She was asleep with her two children—a small baby and a toddler—when she was startled awake by the sound of gunshots and shouts. She looked out her window into the darkness and saw people setting fire to her house.

“I picked up my children and ran,” Chungdung said. “I didn’t know they were waiting outside.”

With the baby on her back and the two-year-old in her arms, Chungdung ran for her life. But the marauders attacked her, striking and killing her baby. Chungdung’s head was slashed, but she kept running and escaped into the night.

In a matter of minutes, she had lost a child, her home and everything she owned. And Chungdung wasn’t the only one.

During the night, hundreds of other villagers in her community were also attacked as a result of ongoing ethno-religious clashes throughout the region. The marauders forced them from their burning homes and set up an ambush on the outskirts of the village. Like Chungdung, they ran for their lives only to race headlong into their attackers.

Operation Blessing staff responded, handing out relief supplies to the families affected by the tragedy.

More than 200 lives were lost during the attacks; most of the victims were women and children.

When Operation Blessing heard about the disaster, teams headed to the village to bring relief supplies to more than 550 victims who had managed to escape with their lives, but not much else.

Operation Blessing handed out clothes, blankets, supplies to repair their damaged homes, and farm fertilizer to the victims to help reduce the challenges that this community is facing in the wake of such tragedy.

The community leader, Da Gyang Pam, expressed his village’s gratitude for OBI’s assistance.

“May God bless you for helping us; it is only God who can reward you for coming to our aid after what we have been through here,” he said.

HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help by making an online donation toward OBI's disaster relief efforts. With your support, we can continue to provide emergency relief and recovery. Please make an on-line donation today.

 

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