Coronavirus: Charity reaches forgotten starving masses by utilising network of churches

The coronavirus lockdown announcement from the Indian government, just four hours before it actually began, caused a mass exodus of the working poor, with thousands fleeing on foot to their home villages- some having to walk hundreds of miles. 

According to the World Bank’s 2018 estimates, India already has 176 million people living in extreme poverty and with lockdown suspending all forms of work for weeks, those who were already most vulnerable in India living in some of the most underdeveloped regions of the country, now face immediate danger of starvation. These families have no security net- they have nothing to fall back on.

As COVID-19 continues to sweep across South Asia, charity Gospel for Asia (GFA) continue their crisis response, aiding hundreds of thousands of people with food, medical supplies and hygiene education. They’re doing this by utilising the  relationships they have with thousands of congregations and fellowship groups who are spread throughout India and the region, allowing GFA-supported workers unique access to provide vital aid where other organisations and government bodies haven’t be able to and where it is most needed.

Dr. KP Yohannan, founder of Gospel for Asia (GFA), leads the charity and its thousands of national workers, as they bring hope to the most vulnerable across South Asia.