Walking Together: Canadian Churches' Campaigns for Biafra during the Nigerian Civil War.

This article examines the humanitarian role of Canadian churches during the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), focusing on their fundraising strategies and relief efforts amid the Nigerian government's blockade of the secessionist Biafra region, which caused widespread starvation and disease. Canadian missionaries and church members mobilized significant public support in Canada, leading to the creation of the Nigeria/Biafra Relief Fund of Canada and the establishment of Canairelief, an airline that smuggled food and medicine into Biafra despite limited government backing. The Canadian federal government maintained a cautious neutrality, supporting relief through the International Committee of the Red Cross but distancing itself from church-led initiatives due to political concerns, including Quebec separatism and diplomatic relations with Nigeria. While Canadian churches' interventions alleviated some suffering, their efforts also had complex consequences, such as prolonging the conflict and uneven distribution of aid within Biafra.