The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International (COFI) is a faith-based non-governmental, non-political organization. Under the direction of the visionary and legendary founder, the Man of God, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome (DSc. DD.) the associated organizations reach out to the most neglected communities in some of the poorest regions of the world.
This year COFI has provided humanitarian aid and lifesaving relief after devastating natural disasters hit. The Volunteer Medical Corps, Trauma Care International Foundation, Inner-City Mission for Children, Future Africa Leaders Foundation, Humanitarian Volunteer Network, and the ’Bible-For-All’ Mission are all partners that have a pivotal role in delivering humanitarian relief.
Natural disasters are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure people and damage property. Earthquakes, windstorms, floods, and disease strike anywhere on earth, often without warning. What has been more impactful this year is that (COFI) has been at the front-line of disaster management response through strategic interventions carried out by its member agencies. COFI through its Hope Relief Mission has been effective within the region that have experienced disasters and insurgencies delivering to hope and new beginnings to many people whose lives have been devastated.
Delivering hope in Nigeria
The floods that affected many Nigerian states led the federal government to declare a national disaster. With more than half a million people displaced by the floods, houses submerged, and food and income sources lost. COFI saw there was a dire need of humanitarian intervention as the IDP’s funded by the Government were inadequate.
In Northeast Nigeria, the insecurity caused by insurgents is both a national and international concern that has led to the loss of lives, livelihoods and has led to mass displacement of people. The temporary shelters set up for these displaced persons were overcrowded and posed environmental and health risks.
In response to the plight of the displaced and affected persons within the Northern Nigeria, member agencies of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International organized Hope Relief Missions to victims in Yola, Adamawa State, Maiduguri, Borno State, and Jalingo, Taraba State in North-East Nigeria, Kogi, Niger and Benue States in North Central Nigeria. They delivered food, medical services and clean water kits for basic relief. They offered psycho-social support for those in need of comfort and education to those children whose lives have been disrupted.
Relief comes to Zimbabwe
In March 2019, Tropical Cyclone Idai hit eastern Zimbabwe, affecting 270,000 people with at least 1,000 deaths, 175 casualties, 257 reportedly missing victims, over 2000 houses destroyed, 29,000 families displaced. Tropical Cyclone Idai caused significant damage to education infrastructure; more than 60 schools affected. With 18 water points destroyed the risk of waterborne disease. Destruction to infrastructure and property was extreme and hundreds of thousands of people needed help.
The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International brought hope to more than two thousand internally displaced persons in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. One person attested that “no organization had mobilized so many people with enormous relief items such that each person received a package.” From food and drink to heal the body to bibles to nurture the soul COFI was there providing humanitarian relief.
Help arrives in India
In July 2019, monsoons caused widespread flooding and landslides across South Asia and at least 100 people died across Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. Furthermore, there were tens of thousands of displaced and millions affected. More than 6.7 million people in India have been directly affected by the floods, about 2.5 million in Bihar and 4.2 million in Assam. In Bangladesh, many live in homes made of bamboo, mud, or timber which provides no protection against floods. As a result, currently, over 300,000 people were evacuated to temporary relief camps and shelters. In Nepal, more than 17,000 people were evacuated to relief camps after major rivers swelled to dangerous levels.
In COFI’s most inaccessible mission yet, a dedicated team of specialist medical personnel came to deliver much-needed services. Volunteers of the agencies of the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International, Volunteer Medical Corps, InnerCity Mission for Children, Trauma Care International Foundation Bible For All Mission(BFAM), traveled far with over seven hours of flight they braved high floodwaters, navigated through the treacherous road networks to reach thousands of forgotten victims and displaced persons of the monsoon floods in remote villages of Assam.
The services they brought to North- East India, included delivering parcels to over 1500 survivors. These were of emergency relief supplies, food items and more importantly the Rhapsody of Realities Devotional and Bibles. The VMC provided free medical services from our team of ten specialist Doctors and Nurses. The government agencies expressed heartfelt appreciation to our Man of God and The Chris Oyakhilome Foundation International for reaching out with humanitarian services to people in the most remote villages and forgotten places of Assam, North-East India.
These outreaches require investment and if you would like to kindly be involved furthering the work of COFI please click on this button to donate. Consider becoming a partner then kindly click here. If you are aged between 16 and 29 and would like to be involved in the humanitarian work of COFI visit the Future African Leaders Foundation website and see if your vision for change can be brought to fruition.