The persecution of Christians for their faith around the world is getting worse during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Open Doors USA, places around the world most vulnerable to the coronavirus also align with places where Christians are treated more harshly for their beliefs.

New forms of persecution

When a 22-year-old man from Ethiopia accepted Christ, he knew his Muslim family would see his change of heart as a betrayal and he would be shunned.

In addition, the man's community expelled him, because the Tigray region where he lives is a part of the country where Christians are ostracized from society and cut off from accessing community resources.

The man says other believers have helped him, but COVID-19 restrictions have made it even harder to live as a Christian in Ethiopia. He struggles to find enough food to eat with no work and no other resources.

Open Doors USA says hundreds of thousands of believers in sub-Saharan Africa are dealing with worse persecution than ever before because they are left exposed and vulnerable from their decision to follow Jesus during the coronavirus pandemic.

Areas such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Sudan, and Cameroon are places where the virus has been the most deadly. They are also places where life is most difficult for Christ-followers.

Rev. John Joseph Hayab from northern Nigeria says believers are facing new forms of persecution during the pandemic.

"We are facing persecution because of our faith and we are also facing a global pandemic," Hayab says.

"We run away from our persecution … or we run away from the global sickness that we are facing. We have a double problem."

But despite these problems, Hayab gives perspective to believers' trials.

"But in all this, we still come back to remember the Word of Jesus: ‘Be ye of good cheers, for I have overcome the world.’ But He didn’t start with that; He says: ‘In this world, you will have many troubles.’ This is another additional trouble we are facing," Hayab says.

No sanitation and less food

It is no secret that social distancing is impacting economies around the world. For pastors who depend on tithes for their income, however, the impact is even more drastic.

While rules may be appropriate to prevent people from gathering, even in worship, the loss of income from tithes means pastors are becoming less able to feed their families.

Widows and orphans, too, cannot trade to receive food, making survival a struggle.

Christians also continue to be displaced by Islamic groups like Boko Haram, ISIS, and Fulani militants. Christians often seek shelter in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, where requests for food and other resources are continuous.

The social and health infrastructure of IDP camps are not equipped to handle these needs, nor the impact of COVID-19. The lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene make these camps a worry for the spreading coronavirus.

Director for Open Doors’ work in West Africa, Suleiman, says IDP camps have been relying on the organization.

"It’s a challenge at this time, but we trust the Lord as we stand together, that He will help find solutions to these issues. We thank you for your continued prayers and support for the persecuted church here in West Africa," Suleiman says.

In areas where Shariah law is prevalent, Christians are experiencing outright government discrimination. Christ-followers living in towns in northern Nigeria, in the Kaduna State, say they receive about six times fewer rations from the state than Muslim families.

Violence continues

Extremist attacks have not stopped as a result of the global pandemic. Open Doors says Christians living in areas such as Nigeria's Middle Belt are living in a survival culture.

In the Kaduna and Plateau States, during the first few weeks of April, 31 people have been killed in extremist attacks. Homes have also been destroyed.

According to one pastor in the area: "We lie down at night, not knowing if we'll wake."

"In the midst of this coronavirus challenges and situation, the attacks on Christians have not stopped," Sulieman says.

In areas such as Somalia and Uganda, some extremists are even blaming the global pandemic on Christians. They say COVID-19 is being spread "by the crusader forces (Christians) who have invaded the country and the disbelieving countries that support them."

There is fear extremist groups may use the pandemic to recruit members.

Sub-Saharan Africa analyst at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Bulama Bukarti, says this is already happening.

"Either way, groups claiming to fight for Islam in Africa will use the virus outbreak to recruit and radicalize fighters and justify their narratives of hate, division and enmity," Bukarti says.