Displaying items by tag: Kuwait

A fire in a residential building in Mangaf has claimed at least fifty lives, mostly foreign workers, including many Indian nationals. The blaze, which broke out early on 12 June, engulfed the building in thick smoke; many of the casualties. The deputy prime minister blamed property owners' greed and building standard violations for the tragedy. The building housed 196 workers: a senior police officer said that warnings were often issued about overcrowding in this type of accommodation.. Dozens were rescued, but many deaths resulted from smoke inhalation. There were thirty Indian nationals among the deceased; other victims were from Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Nepal. However, some bodies were burned beyond recognition and have not yet been identified. Indian officials visited the injured, and Narendra Modi sent a message of condolence to the victims’ families. Kuwait's reliance on foreign workers, particularly in construction and domestic sectors, has often raised human rights concerns about their living conditions.

The Kuwaiti government has imposed a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of coronavirus. On 6 May there were 485 new cases of infections, bringing the total to 6,289. Kuwaiti citizens enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the world today with little persecution of Christians. There are approximately 200 Kuwaitis from a Christian heritage. Pray that during Ramadan God will give extraordinary opportunities for them to have spiritual conversations with their Muslim neighbours as fear of sickness spreads faster than the actual virus. Pray for spirit-led strategies for Christian service during lockdown and Ramadan, and that the message of Christ will reach many people through social media and other forms of technology.