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Three hospitals in that area are supported by the international medical organisation ‘Doctors Without Borders’ (MSF) reported receiving approximately 3,600 patients displaying neurotoxic symptoms in less than three hours on Wednesday. Three hundred and fifty-five died. MSF has a strong and reliable collaboration with medical networks, hospitals and medical points in the Damascus governorate - providing them with drugs, medical equipment and technical support. Medical staff provided detailed information regarding large numbers of patients with convulsions, excess saliva, pinpoint pupils, blurred vision and respiratory distress. They were treated with a drug used to treat neurotoxic symptoms. MSF is now trying to replenish empty stocks and provide additional medical supplies and guidance. 1,600 vials of atropine were supplied over recent months to hospitals and a further 7,000 vials more recently to facilities in the area treating neurotoxic patients. MSF is now including neurotoxic treatment strategies in all its Syrian programmes. Pray: for medical needs to be met in war zones. Pray against extreme violence, displacement and deliberate destruction of medical facilities.
Pray that the use of chemical and biological weapons would never be repeated. (Ps.35:17-20)
The campaign of violence launched by President Bashar al-Assad in response to public protests has now resulted in the deaths of 5000+ citizens by the government. Human rights groups say as many as 37,000 are being held in prisons and secret detention centres where torture is routine. At least 617 people have died from torture. As recently as January 5th several activist groups reported deadly violence involving security forces firing on demonstrators and clashes between army and soldiers who had defected to the opposition. We are asked to pray for the salvation of President al-Assad, and for him to stop killing and torturing his own people. (I Tim.2:1-4) Pray for the Lord to accomplish His plans and purposes for this nation. (Jer. 29:11). For those who have lost friends and family to be comforted. Pray for them to cry out to the Lord to know His love and comfort during this time of grief. (II Cor.1:3,4)
Pray: in the midst of Syria’s shaking – God would reveal himself to the Syrian Church with great power, signs, wonders, dreams and visions so that multitudes would put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. (Col. 4:3-20)
More: http://www.christiansincrisis.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6559&Itemid=39
Syria's conflict is expected to dominate the discussion as some 120 world leaders converge on New York for the week-long United Nations General Debate. Government forces are bombing the city of Aleppo even as talks get underway. Meanwhile, there's word from the military that more than 2,000 Syrian soldiers have defected to Jordan since fighting began last year. The number of refugees who have entered Jordan through unofficial border crossings has reached more than 74,000 Syrians. Christian Aid Mission expects that the refugees will greatly increase in the next few months. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has reported that 100,000 refugees have fled Syria in the month of August, raising the estimated total number of Syrian refugees to 234,368 as of September 2nd. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the Local Coordination Committees have raised their total death toll to between 23,000 and 26,000.
Pray: for the gathering of world leaders that a way forward will be found to bring peace to the region. (Ps.34:14)
In the midst of this crisis persecuted Christians in Syria and neighbouring countries are boldly reaching out to refugees. And the reactions of Muslims have been astonishing. ‘When you hear about one Muslim coming to Christ it’s a great thing and everybody rejoices.’ said a Voice Of the Martyrs Syrian contact. ‘Today in Syria I’m not talking about one person. We’re talking about hundreds and even thousands of Muslims coming to know Christ.’ Teams of believers are working in the refugee camps providing Christ’s love while sharing material aid, medical supplies and Bibles. Christians who are widely considered ‘infidels’ in Syria are now often and affectionately referred to as ‘the Bible People.’ ‘This war is like a knife in the heart of the church. No human can stand that suffering. Nevertheless, there is God’s presence. I can see Christ in the midst of darkness. God is doing miracles - even if he allows us to die, it will be an honour for us to die for his name.’
Pray: for continued spiritual and material aid to those facing the horrific effects of war. Pray for an increase of favour over those who bravely use every opportunity to advance the kingdom of God. (Pr.22:1)
Kidnappings have become a common feature of the ongoing conflict in northern Syria, where fighting between government and rebel soldiers is still fierce. Aid workers and foreign journalists are at particular risk of abduction. On Monday seven members of the Red Cross were kidnapped by gunmen as they travelled in a four vehicle convoy delivering medical supplies and helping the people of Syria in an area largely under rebel control. The team had been in the field since 10 October assessing the medical situation and devising ways to provide medical aid in a difficult area to access. BBC’s Jim Muir in Beirut said, ‘Hardline Islamist rebels are known to operate in the area and Kidnappings of aid workers and journalists have become increasingly common in rebel held areas. See: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24513793 Recently the Press Gazette stated, ‘fear of kidnapping is stopping journalists from entering Syria’ The exact number of kidnap cases is unknown. Families and victims’ employers avoid publicity believing it will hamper negotiations with the kidnappers. See:
Pray: against the lucrative employment of Syrian fixers (negotiators) and activists making fortunes out of kidnapping and killing. (Ps.140:4-5)
According to Breitbart.com and Daily Mail reports, Syrian rebels connected to al-Qaeda have taken over the mostly Christian village of Maaloula in Syria (near Damascus), and are terrorizing the Christians there; insisting they convert to Islam or die. One resident told the Daily Mail, ‘They shot and killed people. I heard gunshots and then I saw three bodies lying in the middle of a street in the old quarters of the village.’ Another added, ‘I saw the militants grabbing five villagers and threatening them and saying, either you convert to Islam, or you will be beheaded.’ There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not the al-Assad regime or the rebels are in control of the city. According to the Daily Mail, the village, built among the mountains, is on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites.
Pray: for believers and all those being terrorized by al-Qaeda linked rebels. (Ps.140:1)
More: http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html
Media companies including the New York Times, Twitter and the Huffington Post lost control of their websites after hackers supporting the Syrian government breached the internet company managing major site addresses. The Syrian Electronic Army, a hacker group that has previously attacked media organisations that it considers hostile to the government of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, claimed credit for the Twitter and Huffington Post hacks in a series of Twitter messages on Tuesday. They also simultaneously targeted CNN, Time and the Washington Post see: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/08/20138281421074547.html Meanwhile an elite Israeli intelligence unit intercepted conversations among high ranking Syrian government officials discussing last week’s chemical attack. U.S. officials said intercepted conversations would be included in a U.S. intelligence assessment that the White House will release to the public. - Israel has superior intelligence coverage of Syria and technical ability on a par with much larger nations as they collect intelligence on the countries that border them.
Pray: for international repercussions of the Syria conflict to be contained. (Ps.35:17)
Tanks have been bombarding border town Tel Kelakh since Saturday as they crush protests against President Bashar al-Assad following Sundays demonstrations demanding ‘the overthrow of the regime’ - the slogan of revolutions that toppled other Arab leaders. The army is storming houses and making arrests, then withdrawing from neighbourhoods after these raids. Some families are resisting, preferring death to humiliation. Human rights groups say Assad’s crackdown has killed at least 700 civilians. ‘We're without water, electricity or communications’, a resident of Tel Kelakh said on satellite phone. Artillery and heavy machinegun fire hit the main road to Lebanon on Tuesday night, some people trying to escape to Lebanon turned back because shelling was too heavy. The Tunisian government threatens to report Libya to UN Security Council if shelling on the border does not stop. See: Pray: for the homeless refugees fleeing Syrian violence and for the terrorised residents left behind. (Ps.23:4) More: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/18/us-syria-idUSLDE73N02P20110518
‘People are terrified,’ said Chaldean Christian Bishop Antoine Audo. ‘The situation is becoming more and more violent and uncertain.’ Thousands have already fled the war-torn areas and those trapped in the crossfire are running out of food and basic supplies. People are sleeping in schools and parks, there is a great human need now, we don't know what will come next. Scores of people are being killed every day as hundreds are continuously being forced from their homes.’ While al-Assad's regime has been portrayed as tyrannical by many some suggest that at least it protected religious freedom and allowed minorities like Christians to live in peace. Many fear Syria will change if radical Islamists take over and bring in Sharia law.
Pray: that this terrible war will ultimately bring about God’s way forward for the people of Syria and that many will turn to the One who rescues the lives of the needy. (Jer.20:13)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/aleppo.bishop.syrians.are.terrified/30425.htm
Reports are surfacing of alarming conditions facing those who remain in Syria. ‘When people leave their houses in the morning they say goodbye to their families in case they don’t come back. There are suicide bombers and car bombs going off all around. 70% to 80% of the Christian population has fled to Jordan, Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon, and Egypt. Living conditions in Syria are extremely harsh and dangerous. Few people are employed. The infrastructure is in tatters. People are beheaded. Girls are raped and killed. The prices for gas and food are ten times what they were two years ago. But the situation is worse for Christians because they face persecution from all sides of the conflict. There is al-Qaeda, dissidents from the Syrian army, a Muslim group called Victory, and other factions. Before the revolution Christians enjoyed legal protection from the Assad government.
Pray: for God’s mercy to rest on all innocent victims still living in Syria. May those who know him also know his comfort and may those who do not yet know him be found by Him. (Ps.60:5)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2013/s13040071.htm