Syria: A recent communication
11 Jan 2013We have been in a village, surrounded by the enemy army (The Free Syrian Army) for many days. We have been without food for these days, and our women have been raped by enemy soldiers. We have had one bright spot - for some reason, the enemy cannot hit us with bullets. When we have fled, being shot at, we are always amazed at the way the bullets have flown past us without hitting any of us. We credit this to the protection from above!' They were looking at fleeing again, possibly returning to a refugee camp, when the leader had a dream. In the dream the Lord told him, 'All the fighting is for you, not against you. This is to your advantage, don't flee.' He believes that the Lord is directing them to stay to gather in a very large harvest. They already have a very large harvest, so what they could gather would be even more amazing!
Pray: for courage, faith, protection and resilience in the face of increasingly dire conditions of a war within a war. (Ps.5:11)
More: http://cryoutnow.org/
The Vatican has reported that 12 nuns were abducted as opposition rebels captured Syria's historically Christian town of Maaloula on Monday. The majority of the town's Christian population is thought to have fled during clashes between government forces and rebels in September, leaving a mainly Muslim population behind. The 40 nuns of the Orthodox Mar Takla convent had been the major exception, until 12 were abducted on Monday. They were reportedly taken to the nearby rebel-held town of Yabroud. Febronia Nabhan, Mother Superior at the Saidnaya Convent told the Associated Press today that the nuns who left were accompanied by three other women. Nabhan said that the Maaloula convent's Mother Superior, Pelagia Sayaf, called her later on Monday and said they were all ‘fine and safe’. Maaloula, 60 kilometres (40 miles) northeast of the capital, Damascus, is a symbol of Syria's ancient Christian roots, where Aramaic – the language spoken by Jesus – is still spoken.
Pray: for the safe return of those abducted. (Is.42:7)
More: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/12.nuns.abducted.as.rebels.recapture.maaloula/34910.htm
Syria(b): UN seeks host countries for refugees
13 Jun 2013The United Nations is asking the United States and Europe to take in thousands of Syrian refugees. Since the beginning of Syria's civil war, more than 1.5 million Syrians have fled the country seeking refuge. UN officials think that number could reach 3.5 million by the end of the year. According to agency spokesman Adrian Edwards, the UN is seeking to relocate 10,000 refugees. On Tuesday Edwards told the Associated Press that ‘resettlement is only one of the tools we use and tends to apply to a very small number of highly vulnerable individuals of any refugee population.’ German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said Germany has already agreed to take in half. Edwards says the United States and Germany usually offer the most help.
Pray: for all the administration and application associated with this initiative for the dispossessed vulnerable. (Job22:29)
More: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/June/UN-Seeks-Host-Countries-for-Syrian-Refugees/
Syria accused of planting landmines near border
16 Mar 2012In November Prayer Alert reported ‘The use of landmines in 2011 has been the highest for seven years in the Middle East’, so it is not surprising that Human Rights Watch has documented multiple accounts from witnesses in Turkey, Lebanon and inside Syria who have either seen Syrian troops laying or being hurt by mines near the borders as thousands of refugees try to escape the conflict. It is unclear how many people have been injured by the munitions because most casualties avoid state hospitals when they are wounded. In some of the latest unverifiable footage to emerge, a sniper appears to hit a man trying to drag another to safety.
Pray: for the United Nations' monitors to gather truthful testimony and for it be used constructively to end Syrian bloodshed. (Is.25:5)
More: http://www.euronews.com/2012/03/13/syria-accused-of-planting-landmines-near-borders/
Syria : Protecting and listening to Christians
08 May 2012Extremist Islamist forces in Syria's opposition movement have attacked local Christians due to the belief that they back the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. According to a report by the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission the country's largest denomination, the Syrian Orthodox Church, recently highlighted an ongoing ethnic cleansing of Christians. The action was allegedly by members of an al-Qaida-linked militant Islamist group, Brigade Faruq, in the city of Homs, an opposition stronghold. Catholic news agency Fides has reported that over 90 percent of Christians in Homs have fled to Jordan and their homes have been grabbed by the militants. The report stated that Christians elsewhere in Syria are not safe either due to threats and incidents of targeted abductions, killings and bombings.
Pray: for the 10% Christian and the 80% Alawite and Muslim population to find and follow the path of peace and know God’s way forward for the region. (Is.30:21)
More: http://www.assistnews.net/Stories/2012/s12040146.htm
Syria (a): UN security concern for Golan Heights
13 Jun 2013The Golan Heights has a political and strategic significance which belies its size. There are 30+ Jewish settlements on the heights and 20,000 Syrians, mostly members of the Druze sect. 900+ UN soldiers monitor the Israel/Syria border. However Syria’s violence spilling into the UN patrolled zone has prompted Austria to remove its 377 peacekeeping soldiers after nearly four decades of peacekeeping. This decision leaves the Philippines as the largest contributor. India also has troops based in the Golan, but Croatia, Canada and Japan have withdrawn their contingents because of the Syrian conflict. Syria's deployment of tanks in the demilitarized zone violates 1973 ceasefire agreements but sources told the BBC that Israel will not react. There are concerns the civil war in Syria will spill further over this and other borders and that the Golan Heights could be used to launch attacks against Israel.
Pray: for containment of Islamist extremists and Hezbollah militants fighting in Syria and that the war will not spill further into neighbouring countries. (Ps.80:14 & 19)
More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22862213
Sudan: Update from Kenya
03 Feb 2011
Rev James Baak Nhial reports, ‘The Southern Sudanese living in Kenya voted for independence, and it was the first time for many Southern Sudanese to exercise their democratic right since they were born. We felt, at last, after years of suffering and deaths, the World has recognised our existence on this planet and gave us a chance to determine our destiny as a people! Behind the scenes, we recognised the power of the Almighty God who said to Pharaoh in Egypt ‘Let my people go’ has now said ‘Let my people of Southern Sudan go’ and no human power on this Earth can prevent that from happening! We thank God, Christian Community, Southern Sudan friends and international community for their support during this long walk to freedom and post-referendum period.’ We are asked to continue to pray – all to recognise the results, peace to prevail, reconciliation, trauma healing, peaceful co-existence among tribes, rehabilitation and resettlement of returnees from North Sudan and East Africa.’ Pray: for God's guidance for challenges that will face a new nation of South Sudan and utilization of resources. (Job 12:22-23)
Sudan: Turnout vote passes 60%
18 Jan 2011
By Wednesday nearly 2.3 million voters had cast ballots in the Sudan referendum vote with more than 60 percent of registered voters, this volume of turnout has gone beyond the threshold needed for the vote to be valid if it creates the new country of Southern Sudan as expected. We are encouraged to continue to pray for a peaceful outcome to the referendum. See The result will be announced February 14th and should there be a split the new country would be declared in July. An independent south would control almost 80 percent of Sudan’s oil production of 490,000 barrels a day, the third- biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling the new country to begin to alleviate the current levels of poverty. Pray: for God’s blessing on His people in Sudan and for Him to protect the area from devices of the enemy. (Pr.16:3)