In response to the devastating floods that struck São Vicente and Santo Antão on August 11, 2025, the Cape Verde Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (AIASD-CV) has launched a large-scale solidarity mission combining volunteer work and humanitarian assistance. Reports indicate that the flash flooding claimed several deaths, more than 20,000 injured and thousands of displaced.

The secretary of the Western Sahel Union Mission of the Seventh-day Adventists, Edson Monteiro reported that “so far no Adventist member is missing in those sinistered islands. But many church members lost their houses and some forcibly displaced.”

A group of 30 volunteers from Santo Antão, Sal, Boa Vista, and Santiago traveled to São Vicente on August 21. They joined local Pathfinder and Youth Clubs, already active on the ground, in assisting families and communities hardest hit by the torrential rains. 

The delegation was accompanied by the president of the conference, Natalino Martins, who plans to hold meetings with local authorities to define intervention priorities. The mission, coordinated by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), will last 15 days.

AIASD-CV has committed to covering all expenses related to travel, accommodation, and food for the volunteers. Their work will include cleanup operations, reconstruction support, and direct assistance to 15 families—around 70 people—identified by the Crisis Office as the most vulnerable.

“Our actions will be fully coordinated with local authorities to ensure efficiency and alignment with community needs,” said Elsa Vieira, a representative of AIASD-CV.

Meanwhile, ADRA is leading a nationwide donation campaign, collecting clothing, non-perishable food, school supplies, and hygiene products at various points across the country. Contributions can also be made through a dedicated bank account. The donations, including those from the Adventist community abroad, will be delivered directly to affected households in São Vicente.

The West-Central Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has also expressed its solidarity with Cape Verde. In a heartfelt message, division president Bassey E. O. Udoh declared: “It is with profound sorrow that we have received the news of the devastating floods… In such moments, words may appear fragile, but love compels us to speak: you are not alone. As members of one body in Christ, your pain is our pain, your tears are our tears.”

Udoh assured the people of Cape Verde of the prayers and support of the wider Adventist family: “Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit may sustain you, that Christ may be your refuge, and that His grace may rebuild and restore your beloved and beautiful nation.”

By combining the efforts of volunteers, donors, church leaders, and institutional partners, AIASD-CV and ADRA aim to bring not only relief but also a message of hope to a community struggling to recover from one of the most severe storms in recent years.

The original article was published on the West-Central Africa Division news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.