A teacher innocently walking down a dust-red road was the first victim gunned down that May 12 morning. The attackers then moved toward a nearby church in Fantio, a village in northwestern Niger along the border with Burkina Faso. Militants vandalized walls, burned hymnbooks and vestments, and turned their guns on churchgoers. “We were forced…
Construction Projects
God Continues to Work as Samaritan’s Purse Completes 66 Churches in Niger
Five years ago, dozens of church buildings in Niger were burned to the ground by mobs of angry young men. These groups within Niger’s Muslim community torched the structures and burned books, hymnals, pews, and other valuables in large piles by the road. But what was meant for evil, God has meant for good. Since…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Planting Seeds of Faith in Famine-Scarred Niger
The lean season was once a season of despair for many families in Karofane, a village in rural Niger. Halima,* a mother of ten, would watch hopelessly as her children grew thin and weak. Their hair would turn brittle and bleached—common signs of malnutrition. “I would take them to the traditional healer, but still they…
Health & Medical Ministries
New Health Center Expands Medical Care in Niger
Samaritan’s Purse recently opened an integrated health center in Regaou village in Niger, an area that has historically high rates of malnutrition. Our center is a welcome addition for the impoverished region as it will significantly increase access to medical care for Regaou’s 11,000+ residents. Previously, the only medical care option was one nurse working…
Crisis & Disaster Response
Fighting COVID-19 and Providing Relief in Africa
Samaritan’s Purse teams based in our seven country offices across Africa continue to help alleviate suffering during the COVID-19 global pandemic, finding critical ways to support men, women, and children during this uncertain time. Our teams are working hard to help train medical professionals and equip healthcare centers, to create awareness programs for communities, and…
Our Ministry
A Glimpse of Niger
Alan Bobbett is the country director in Niger. When I became country director in Niger three years ago, we were on the cusp of an upward growth. As more projects filtered in and it became possible to effect change in the community, we saw God’s hand working through us to not only help people meet…
Animals, Agriculture & Livelihoods
Determination and Resilience in Niger
by Brittany Breedlove, the program development officer in Niger, who showed our staff around Guidan Gado for Raise a Village The people of Niger have a unique depth of their character despite a lack of physical means. Their determination and resilience to continue against all odds and circumstances is surprising. For example, Auta, who we…
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
Clean Water Project Saves Lives in Niger
Despite living along the Niger River, local villagers had little access to clean water. Parents and their children generally drank from the same source where animals bathe and clothes are washed. Every week canoes carried patients sickened by waterborne illness to a medical center up river. Some patients died before completing the hours-long journey. Young…
Women's Programs
Helping Babies Breathe in Niger
Cindy Uttley is a Samaritan’s Purse community health advisor. I recently had an opportunity to visit Niger and train nurses and physicians in Helping Babies Breathe, which focuses on newborn resuscitation. It was a privilege to lead participants through the skills necessary to help every baby breathe within the first minute of life. In step…
Health & Medical Ministries
Thousands of Measles Vaccinations Open Doors for the Gospel in Niger
As Samaritan’s Purse mobile medical teams provide tens of thousands of measles vaccinations west of Niger’s capital Niamey, our Gospel ministry is growing as well. Since July our mobile medical clinics have provided more than 57,000 measles vaccinations and this has opened up opportunities for our evangelists to pray for residents and their families. Measles…
