Churches in Zimbabwe are opening their doors to give refuge to people fleeing violence following the elections which were held almost a month ago.

The Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) has held emergency meetings to coordinate its response to the growing number of people arriving in major cities to escape the violence in the rural areas inflicted on those who voted for the opposition.

Member churches of the ZCA, a Christian Aid partner, have already received people in Harare and Bulawayo; churches in other major cities have also opened their doors.

'We need to provide these people with shelter, food and blankets,' said Rev Jonah Gokova of the ZCA.

'From a faith perspective these actions are really demonic. They are undermining the dignity of people created in the image of God.'

Rev Gokova says pastors are also being targeted; two pastors arrived in Harare after being warned by their parishioners to flee.

The victims of this violence are caught up in Operation Makavhoterapapi, which is Shona for 'Where did you put your cross?'

Gangs of armed ZANU PF supporters are moving through the countryside to identify villages which support the opposition party.

'We are concerned about this situation which now resembles a state of war,' said Rev Gokova. 'As Christians we publicly condemn this suffering and killing of innocent people.

'The courage of these people is amazing. One man we are trying to help refused to take up a safe house we had provided him with, saying he had to get back to his family. He was not prepared to leave his family facing the same threats he had escaped. He is determined to get his family out.'

Churches in neighbouring South Africa, Zambia and Botswana have offered support to the ZCA.

A statement released earlier this week by church leaders in Zimbabwe warned the country faces 'genocide' unless the international community intervenes.

'We warn the world that if nothing is done to help the people of Zimbabwe from their predicament, we shall soon be witnessing genocide similar to that experienced in Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and other hot spots in Africa and elsewhere,' leaders of all denominations said in a joint statement.

It also said there was "widespread famine" in Zimbabwe's countryside, that basic goods were unavailable or too expensive and that there were no medicines to treat people injured in the post-election violence.

Rev Gokova said: 'While we are trying to find ways to comfort these people, we appeal to Christians everywhere to condemn this situation. We urge people to pray for peace in Zimbabwe.'

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Judith Melby, Christian Aid's Africa specialist, has just returned from Zimbabwe; she may be contacted on jcmelby@christian-aid.org or 07720 467 679