The following update on the situation in Ethiopia is from the Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idosa, president of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus:
Dear Partners in Christ,
Thank you very much for your concerns and prayers in such a difficult situation. Many of you were and still are praying, calling us to know our situation and the magnitude of the violence against Christians that has taken place in the western part of our country during the last two weeks.
Rev. Yonas Yigezu, Director for Mission and Theology of the EECMY and I have been on a work visit in the West since March 1, 2011. It was on March 10 that we came back to Addis Ababa. We heard about the violence while we were in Western Synod and were following up on the progress of the violence daily; calling Addis and Jimma talking to leaders at different levels of the church. Every day was coming up to us with pain and hurt. We were hearing about church buildings and individual homes being burned and pulled down, properties looted, people displaced, beaten and terrified.
On March 10, on our way back to Addis, we visited Jima and some of the areas of the violence. We visited Dimtu, a district town where we meet with members of our church who were displaced. we prayed with them and encouraged them with the Word of God. We were told that there were 104 people sheltered in one of the NGO buildings. The buildings are used as a shelter for the displaced and transit prison. We also continued further into a small town called Akoo and again met with those displaced. In this place all members of different evangelical churches are gathered. We were told that there were over 3,000 most of them are children and women. We saw church buildings destroyed, trees and coffee plantation devastated.
When we arrived at the place all displaced persons were on a meeting. Government officials, members of the Islamic supreme council from the Federal and regional state of Oromiya were there to hear the stories of the violence made against Christians. It was heart breaking to listen. All of us were in tears. We also visited Asendabo town where the violence was initiated, had discussion with the Mayor of the town. He told us that Pages of the Holy Koran was torn and used at a toilet in the compound of one of the evangelical churches; of course not EECMY congregation. Someone reported the incident to the Mosque in the town and from there violence broke out.
Just for your information those displaced as reported to us were over 3,644. There were other displaced persons who sheltered in the homes of their relatives when they fled from the rural to Jimma city. Up until now it was reported to us that 55 church buildings were burned and destroyed. Yesterday it was reported that two churches of the Full Gospel were burned which makes the number to rise to 57. Out of these, 12 belongs to the EECMY. It was reported to us that 4 residences of the EECMY members were burned; and report received from other evangelical churches states that 41 houses were burned. This makes the number of burnt individuals houses 45.
The Government is taking drastic action following up and identifying the cause and the causers. Every place in the village, residents were on meetings. Many who involved in the violence we caught and put in jail, and still the process is continuing. In every small towns on our way there were security persons to protect the residents.
On Friday we have sent some food items, blankets, plastic sheets for shelter and kitchen utensils. We are continuing to make assessments and plan on how we can help the displaced persons to rehabilitate. It is our hope that peace will be maintained in the area and the government also promised to continue protect the people and bring to justice those who involved in the violence.
Dear friends,
We are reminded by the apostle that it has been granted to us on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since we are going through the same struggle we see, Phil 1:29-30. I would like to thank God for God’s protection and the grace and courage that God is giving his chosen people to suffer for the sake of Christ! There is hope for them and for all of us. Christ is alive and is always remain Emanuel for us in times of our joys and difficulties.
We highly appreciate your concerns and prayers in such a difficult situation. It is our sincere hope that you will continue to pray and accompany us. May the almighty God bless you all!
Rev. Dr. Wakseyoum Idosa
President
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