Helping Ebola orphans survive in Sierra Leone

The recent Ebola epidemic killed over 11,000 people. BMS World Mission is helping some of the thousands of children who were left orphaned by the outbreak in Sierra Leone

It was the deadliest outbreak of Ebola in history – claiming thousands of lives, tearing apart communities, and wreaking havoc on the health and economic systems of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Now, as three of the world’s poorest countries attempt to rebuild (after West Africa was officially declared Ebola free in January) BMS is standing alongside some of those orphaned by the devastating epidemic.

An estimated 4,000 children in Sierra Leone were orphaned by the 2014 Ebola outbreak. As well as having to cope with the trauma of losing their parents to this horrific disease, these children were left without a support network and often lack access to food, medical care and education.
 
Through local partners, BMS is supporting 30 children who lost their parents to Ebola and are now living with foster families in Sierra Leone’s two most-affected districts. Thanks to your gifts to BMS disaster recovery, we are able to help pay for food, education, medical care and clothing for these children for the next two years – an investment not just in their survival, but in their futures.



Although the Ebola outbreak seems to finally have come to an end, there are no quick-fixes for those affected in countries like Sierra Leone. The families who have taken in orphaned children often have very little money themselves, and survive through farming and trading. The economic situation in the country has worsened since the outbreak, with many people living hand-to-mouth on much less than a dollar a day. Ebola survivors are struggling to survive, with many having lost their livelihoods and grappling with health problems – particularly eye-related diseases.
 
Orphaned children are some of the most vulnerable in society. By standing alongside them and supporting them through this difficult time, we can have a real impact. These children’s futures shouldn’t be defined by the tragedy of their past. Your gifts are enabling us to invest in them and to let them know that, although the world’s media has moved on, we have not forgotten.
 
Thank you.


 

You can help us to be prepared to respond to disasters before they happen by giving to BMS disaster recovery today!



This article first appeared on the website of BMS World Mission and is used with permission.