Syrians feel ‘increasingly abandoned by the world’ as global attention focuses on IS militants while violence and government bureaucracy hinder delivery of aid and medical supplies to 12 million people. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said a lack of accountability during the four-year civil war has also led to a rise in allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights abuses. While aid is reaching several million people, the situation for 4.8 million people in hard-to-reach areas (especially 212,000 people in besieged areas) was of ‘grave concern. Hospitals and schools are being attacked and international aid funding has failed to keep pace with needs. The UN is seeking $8.4 billion to meet humanitarian needs in 2015, after only securing half the funding it asked for in 2014. Mr Ban ki-moon said at a pledging conference in Kuwait on 31 March is crucial.

Muhammad Buhari wants to replace the current Christian President of Nigeria. Buhari has said in the past, ‘Sharia should be introduced across Nigeria. I will continue to show openly and inside me total commitment to the Sharia movement. God willing, we will not stop agitating for total implementation of the Sharia in Nigeria. God has given us a legal responsibility to continue to uphold the practice of Sharia wholeheartedly and educate non-Muslims that they have nothing to fear. What remains for Muslims in Nigeria is for them to redouble their efforts, educate Muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia law.’ Buhari’s comments were interpreted as a call for the imposition of Sharia even in the mainly Christian south. Also in the run-up to federal elections Nigerian journalists have been attacked and beaten at political rallies, and fear attack from militants. See: 

Four years ago this week a group of young teenagers with a can of paint sprayed messages on a wall in Daraa city. They couldn’t have known it but, over the next nine days, their graffiti started the Syrian civil war, which reaches its fourth anniversary on 15 March. The sprayed messages said ‘the people want to topple the regime’- echoed in other countries during the Arab Spring. The Syrian government was quick to act. It arrested the 15 boys, aged 10 to 15, interrogated and tortured them. Thousands turned out on the streets and the boys were released. The protests continued and spread to cities across Syria before turning violent and developing into full-scale civil war. The first protestors to die were killed on 18 March, - by security forces trying to stop a rally.  At least 220,000 have lost their lives according to the most recent UN figures, including over 10,000 children.

The next step following the Israeli election is to form a coalition government. The final results of the ballot boxes will be known by Friday as the soldiers’ and diplomats’ votes need to be counted. After that the country will be faced with a period of uncertainty, during which the president will choose the candidate whom he believes has the highest prospect of setting up a coalition. Then this candidate will negotiate with his prospective coalition partners. Once a deal is reached the new government will be formed and the various ministerial portfolios will be distributed according to the agreement. That could take some time. Benjamin Netanyahu has not made himself beloved of his people, many leaders in the free world hoped and he would be pushed off Israel’s stage. Following weeks of tension between the White House and the Prime Minister’s Office, there is now a need to push the reset button.

A group of 30+ gunmen attacked the Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte and abducted 20 workers. The hospital workers had decided to leave the city because of the poor security situation there and the Islamic State wanted them to stay because they were the only people able to treat its wounded fighters. IS murdered 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya last month and took control of Sirte last year. Libya's security situation has disintegrated. Warring tribes and interest groups provide fertile ground for IS success. IS kidnapped nine foreign oil workers and reportedly beheaded eight guards earlier this month; they also killed oil workers and took hostages in February. They are causing Libya to become more dangerous by the day. These latest attacks don’t bear the hallmarks of militias driven by local grievances or political rivalry, as seen in the past. Their aim is to instil fear, mark territory and wreak havoc.

As Boko Haram brings death and destruction to Nigeria, a radio ministry is reporting miraculous testimonies of salvation and protection in the midst of terror. The Tide radio talks about Jesus in the language they were born to speak. One Muslim listener heard a programme in the Hausa language, the official language of Islam in Nigeria. Although a believer in Jihad, he was challenged by the message of hope and peace that only Christ can offer. He responded to the Gospel message, called the number at the end of the programme and is now a follower of Christ. Another listener said, ‘I’m a Nigerian soldier with the 15th armoured brigade in the war against Boko Haram and listen to your radio programme. Thanks for your prayers. God has kept me alive. By God’s grace Boko Haram will be defeated and the northeast border will witness the flushing out of the terrorists.’

A brother in Pakistan writes, ‘The government continues to crack down on terrorism.  In some places it has made it hard for smaller groups of Christians.  Churches and schools have to have metal detectors, high walls and an armed guard.  If they cannot afford this their schools or churches have been closed.  A good pastor friend of ours is in jail because his church did not do this. There are major strongholds that control this country. Evil is birthed from them and this evil goes out across the nation and the world.  It controls the religious and governmental systems. Pray for teams of intercessors from five different areas that will be going to major satanic strongholds controlling this country. They need heavy prayer support from Saturday, 11 April to Monday, 13 April. Pray that people would be prepared spiritually. Pray for safety for all involved.  Pray we will walk in God´s authority. May God demonstrate His power - comparable to Jericho.

Christians make up less than 2% of Pakistan's overwhelmingly Muslim population, and Christian communities are often targeted by militants. Last weekend an offshoot of the Pakistan Taliban claimed responsibility for bombing two churches in the Christian neighbourhood of Lahore. Fifty people were hurt and fourteen killed in explosions which took place within minutes of each other. Large crowds who were already in the area to attend Sunday mass turned violent after the blasts. This is not how Christian victims usually respond to terror attacks in Pakistan, but it was the latest in a long line of horrific attacks on religious minorities. Catholic leaders asked Christians to refrain from violence and cooperate with police investigations. Last June Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered the creation of a police task force to ‘eradicate a social evil that has taken root in our society in recent years.’ Please read the article below regarding intercession to eradicate evil.

Last Friday, 13 March, the President of the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu travelled to Japan to attend the third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction which opened the following day.  For most of Friday and Saturday cyclone Pam pummelled the Vanuatu nation. Sixty-five of Vanuatu’s islands are inhabited by small communities; a total 260,000 people live in flimsy homes built mostly of thatch. Reports from islands so far visited reveal everything flattened and thousands of families made homeless. A state of emergency has been declared. Yesterday the conference on Disaster Risk Reduction ended. We can pray that decisions made concerning workable guidance on reducing mortality and economic losses from disasters will be successfully implemented for those recovering from Cyclone Pam.

UNICEF are once again drawing our attention to children in danger and renewing their call for an end to violence against children. Across the globe millions of children are in danger. Too many childhoods are broken by the trauma of violence. These children’s stories are hard to tell or listen to – so often we don’t. The violence feeds on our silence, allowing the suffering of children to continue and grow. UNICEF want 2015 to be the year of change and are calling on all UK political party leaders to commit to supporting a new global target to end violence against children everywhere. In September world leaders will agree new global goals that will guide the development of our planet for the next 15 years. UNICEF wants these goals to include a robust target to end violence against children, so that this becomes a priority for all countries.