By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - Christian leaders in India and Nepal are dying of COVID-19 at such a rate that “scores of Christian ministries” are in danger of closing as there is no one to lead them, aid workers say. ‘Black fungus’ now poses an additional deadly threat in India, where thousands of pastors and other Christian leaders reportedly died.
Experts say the coronavirus pandemic kills mainly older adults and those with underlying health issues, as well as vulnerable people in impoverished countries. “Both India and Nepal have lost many of their church leaders to the COVID-19 pandemic. [That is] leaving their sick, frightened, and hungry congregations without pastoral care,” said the Barnabas Fund aid group.
Over 2,000 pastors and Christian leaders have died from Covid in India, according to Christian sources. “In addition, at least 40 ministries in India are in danger of closing down. Because their leaders have died and there is no one able to replace them,” Barnabas Fund told Worthy News.
“On June 2, some of Barnabas Fund’s Indian project partners reported that well over 2,000 pastors and other Christian leaders had already died in India,” the group noted.
Additionally, Christians in neighboring Nepal are left without pastoral care “because so many of their pastors and church leaders are dying from COVID-19,” Barnabas Fund explained.
A Christian leader in Nepal was quoted as saying that, “We are losing many pastors and leaders – even this morning we lost two pastors. The situation is very, very bad right now.”
MANY HOSPITALIZED
The unidentified leader added: “More than 150 pastors and leaders are in hospital, isolating and COVID-19 positive. Many poor Christians have no food to eat. We have already experienced starvation.”
A highly infectious strain of COVID-19 overwhelmed India, producing “a health and economic crisis of unprecedented proportions,” Christian doctors say.
Additionally, “Many recovering Covid-19 patients in India have been infected by the “black fungus” which maims or kills many of its victims,” the group added.
Black fungus, also known as Mucormycosis, is a rare but dangerous fungal infection. It coincides with blackening or discoloration over the nose, blurred or double vision, chest pain, breathing difficulties, and coughing blood.
It has been linked to inhaling mold spores or coming into contact with them in fir instance, soil, rotting produce or bread, or compost piles.
“The situation in neighboring Nepal is even worse because the health infrastructure there was weaker than in India to start with,” Barnabas Fund said.
EASING LOCKDOWNS
Despite the uncertainty, many Indian states eased coronavirus restrictions Monday, including the capital New Delhi, where authorities allowed all shops and shopping centers to open.
Millions of Indians relying on poor-paying day jobs had suffered under lockdowns.
Authorities said slowly reopening the economy was possible as several new infections dropped to the lowest in more than two months
Critics cautioned against a full reopening, saying India has vaccinated only about 5 percent of its estimated 950 million adults with the necessary two doses. They claim that left millions vulnerable, but other experts warn of the side effects of vaccines.
Christians comprise just over 2 percent in India and nearly 1.5 percent in Nepal, according to figures cited by the U.S Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Barnabas Fund suggested the actual numbers may be higher approaching 4 percent in India and nearly 5 percent in Nepal.