At St Joseph’s parish, one of only two Catholic churches in the predominantly Muslim country, a group of devoted nuns is offering sanctuary and life-saving care to migrant babies orphaned by tragedy.

Spearheaded by Sister Marie-Ange Ndayishimiye, the Welcome Office at St Joseph’s has become a lifeline for women and children fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability across West Africa.

Many of the migrants arrive destitute, with pregnant women often facing life-threatening childbirth conditions. The Sisters report a disturbing rise in maternal deaths, leaving behind newborns with no one to care for them.

“We are overwhelmed,” Sister Marie-Ange told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “Too many pregnant women to rescue, some give birth by caesarean section, families to be cared for and fed. Without our help, these babies would not survive”.

The Sisters provide essentials like milk, clothes, mosquito nets, and nappies to orphaned infants. They also support mothers who are temporarily separated from their partners, many of whom continue onward to more developed countries in search of work. Until these women can stand on their own, the nuns offer food, hygiene kits, and emotional support.

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