Providing practical and spiritual care for displaced Indian Christians

Food and medical provision

In the weeks following the riots, the Open Doors team organised 6,000 relief packs containing cooking utensils, plates and cups, rice and food, clothes for a family, medicines, mosquito nets, hair oil and of course a Bible. Each pack was placed in a metal padlocked trunk.

The first phases of relief were carried out in secrecy. Government authorities assisted with relief distribution in some areas, but in areas where they proved unhelpful, Open Doors teams had to brave threats to deliver relief goods independently. While many organisations withdrew for security reasons, Open Doors has been a lifeline for the persecuted Christians in Orissa.

In the relief camps, the people were served rice and dal (lentil soup) for their meals twice a day. Breakfast often consisted of leftover rice. Although the government refused to supply meat on cost grounds, Open Doors was privileged to sponsor a non-vegetarian Christmas meal for nearly 3,000 people in the G-Udaigiri camp.

Trauma counselling, training and advocacy

Open Doors also provided trained trauma counselling teams, to accompany special Standing Strong Through the Storm seminars designed to bring encouragement and help to the local Christians.

The need for legal advice is acute, as police often do not file cases brought by Christians; and if they do, they frequently take advantage of their illiterate status to ensure that Hindu fundamentalists are not charged. So Open Doors organised legal seminars using dedicated Christian lawyers who volunteered to educate people on various issues. They even enabled some victims to file complaints against perpetrators of the violence.

There is a long journey ahead before peace and prosperity can return, but Open Doors is committed to supporting and strengthening the church in India, and hopes that the worldwide body of Christ will not forget their family in Orissa.