Supporting Methodist Church in Southern Africa emergency response to flooding in Botswana

Global Relationships Partnership Coordianator for Africa, Dr. Andrew Ashdown, shares how the climate crisis is impacting Botswana and the emergency response of the Methodist Church in Southern Africa, supported by the World Mission Fund.

In November 2024, I visited Botswana. At the time the country suffering the consequences of several years of drought. The land was parched and hard. Crops had failed. The carcasses of cattle and goats were everywhere. Without food and water, they had starved to death. Rural communities were already struggling to survive.

Then in February 2025, a cyclone hit Southern Africa. Hitting ground hardened by years of drought, the heaviest rains in years caused catastrophic flooding destroying many homes. Molopo District, which covers an area in both South Africa and Botswana was amongst the worst areas affected with 70% of people being impacted by the flooding. Nine people lost their lives in the floods but numerous households were swept away and businesses, churches, utilities, schools and many public institutions were affected.

The Methodist Church in Britain, through the World Mission Fund, has been pleased to support the Methodist Church in Southern Africa’s emergency response with a grant of £15,000. Provisions such as building materials, food, clothes and blankets will be distributed to over 500 people most impacted by the flooding in rural Botswana.

The impact of Climate Change cannot be overstated. Vast areas across the continent of Africa is are being profoundly impacted by frequent droughts and failure of rains and harvests. This causes hardening and desertification of land which in turn means plants are unable to grow. When rains do occur, affected areas are therefore prone to catastrophic flooding and soil erosion. This in turn often leads to migration of people, both within countries and inter-continentally.

Through Solidarity Grants provided by the World Mission Fund, the Methodist Church in Britain is able to support our partners in transformative and life-saving responses to emergency situations in often ‘unreached’ areas that rarely feature in media coverage.

Follow this link to donate to the World Mission Fund.