YWAM leaders in Africa continue to plead for prayer for the nation of Zimbabwe. The situation in this nation is one of the greatest humanitarian crises in Southern Africa and in the world today. Starvation and disease as well as economic instability have left millions of people without basic necessities or the means to improve their situation.

“You see the desperation on Zimbabwean faces,” a YWAM leader in the region said. “People eat nothing for days because there is nothing to eat. A cholera crisis is also looming – doctors estimate that there are up to 1.4 million people in danger of succumbing to the disease. The great concern is that the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe is getting completely out of hand.”

A number of agencies are attempting to provide relief. The World Food Program has been taking corn into the nation since October but it is enough only to feed 4 million people out of an estimated population of 6.7 million. Maize meal is being exchanged for fuel and vehicle parts to enable the transportation of food by aid organizations, but many of the trucks are hijacked by starving people.

The elderly and ill are most at risk. Essential medications are rarely available and unaffordable in a nation where the state pension has become worth less than the price of a loaf of bread. Medical care is only available in private hospitals, which require advance payment in American dollars. People cannot even withdraw their savings, as they begin standing in line outside banks from 4 a.m. only to face restrictions on withdrawals that only allow a maximum of Z$ 500 000 -- less than the price of a loaf of bread.

YWAM teams in Zimbabwe are struggling to maintain hope in the face of this ongoing tragedy. YWAM teams from surrounding nations have been visiting with supplies to help them survive a few more months. Donations will be made from the YWAM International Storehouse fund, established to help YWAM workers in crisis.

To give to the International Storehouse Fund, you may send a check payable in U.S. dollars or British sterling pounds only. Please write your check to YWAM, attaching a separate note stating that it is to be applied to the International Storehouse Fund account. You can send your check to: YWAM International Storehouse Fund, 6 Highfield Oval, Harpenden, Herts. AL 54 BX England, United Kingdom.

To pay via PayPal, please log in to your Pay Pal account at www.paypal.com, and then send your payment to: nationalaccounts@ywamengland.org. Please be sure to note that your donation should be applied to the International Storehouse Fund. PayPal will charge you a surcharge to use their service.

To do a wire transfer, please e-mail us at ict@oval.com for instructions.