Displaying items by tag: Refugees

Friday, 17 August 2018 10:13

The Refugee Council

The Refugee Council works with refugees and asylum-seekers in the UK, offering practical support and advice throughout their journey. For over sixty years it has helped people fleeing war, rape, or torture. Refugees have unimaginable stories to tell. Many have lost everything, and their lives will never return to normal. The council supports them and empowers them to rebuild their lives. Pray for all those helping refugees as they make the challenging first steps towards resettlement. Pray that they can obtain the necessary immigration documentation and move towards accessing a source of income or interim financial support. Pray for God to anoint the counsellors who assess refugees with physical and mental health problems. Pray for more stable and secure accommodation to be available across our nations for those who need it.

Published in British Isles
Friday, 03 August 2018 09:46

Nicaragua: people flee the country

UNHCR is calling for international solidarity and support for countries hosting Nicaraguan refugees and asylum seekers, as thousands flee mounting political tensions, violence and serious human rights violations. Many Nicaraguans could flee to America if the situation worsens, said a Catholic priest whose parish came under siege in a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests which killed 300+ people. During the church siege clergy negotiated the release of 200 university students, priests and journalists. But two were killed and dozens injured. The protests started after social security overhauls in May. They are demanding democratic reforms and that President Daniel Ortega and his wife, the vice president, step down from an alleged dictatorship marked by nepotism and brutal repression. During the initial days of the protests Ortega asked the Church to act as a mediator, but his administration began using brutal force against student protesters. Now, clergy are also being attacked. Priests are now on the opposition front lines, and Ortega’s government has declared war on the Church.

Published in Worldwide
Thursday, 21 June 2018 22:28

USA: human rights and Mexico border

In May, Amnesty International said the US government must stop separating asylum-seeking parents from their children and denying them access to asylum procedures through prolonged detention when they present themselves at the US-Mexico border. On 20 June Donald Trump ended this policy, following days of public outrage. Many asylum-seekers are fleeing violent countries which abuse human rights (such as Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala). They usually cross Mexico in caravans, as travelling in a group is safer in dangerous places. Although Trump seeks to brand them as criminals, it is not a crime to seek asylum at official border posts. Recently members of a caravan and their representatives marched through the streets of Tijuana to the border crossing point saying, ‘We are not criminals, we are the hope of Latin America’.

Published in Worldwide

Two French pilots were not content with doing nothing about the annual tragedy of hundreds perishing in the Mediterranean trying to reach Europe in small makeshift boats. José Benavente and Benoît Micolon invested all their €130,000 savings to buy a light plane and establish the non-profit organisation Pilotes Volontaires to provide aerial observation support to the non-governmental organisations carrying out rescue operations in a part of the Mediterranean where over 3,000 people die each year. Based in Malta, they will be attached to a rescue plan already in place and coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Rome, and be in strict contact with all organisations in the area.

Published in Europe
Friday, 23 February 2018 10:34

Christianity - Europe's 'last hope'

Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orbán has called Christianity the ‘last hope’ for Europe, as the continent struggles to integrate millions of Muslim migrants who have fled their countries of origin. Orbán also accuses some Western European governments of facilitating the ‘decline of Christian culture’, and paving the way for Islam's advance. In his annual state of the nation speech he warned these nations that they will be overwhelmed with Muslim migrants and their culture will drastically change for the worse. He said that if millions of young Muslims move north, large European cities will have a Muslim majority. The prime minister is expected to win a third term when Hungarians go to the polls in April. Pray for an end to the fear of declining Christian culture, and for Muslim refugees to have divine appointments with Christians in European cities and encounter Christ.

Published in Europe
Friday, 16 February 2018 09:44

Hungary: NGOs helping immigrants could be banned

Viktor Orbán’s government has outlined plans for a new law giving it powers to ban any NGOs that ‘sponsor, organise or support a third-country national’s entry into or stay in Hungary via a safe third country in order to ensure international protection’. Mr Orban has campaigned heavily on the issue of immigration to Hungary. He says that the law will prevent the giving up of ‘national independence’ and hinder politicians who he claims want to ‘transform Hungary into an immigrant country’. His party is expected to win a huge victory in the 8 April election. NGOs would need a permit to operate, and even then could be prevented from working on ‘national security’ grounds. NGOs with approval would pay a special 25% tax on any international funding aimed at helping migrants and refugees. Some could be labelled activists and be issued with restraining orders to prevent them from going near Hungary’s borders.

Published in Europe
Friday, 12 January 2018 11:31

France: refugees still sleeping rough

President Macron said he wanted refugees ‘off the streets’ by 2018, but there are still a thousand of them sleeping rough on Paris streets. Solidarithé provide them with coffee, blankets, and information. A Solidarithé volunteer said that Macron wanted to make the problem invisible, but refugees are just hiding in smaller groups throughout north Paris and Calais. The police order them to move on, and even spray them with tear gas. Refugees’ tents are slashed and sleeping bags and blankets are stolen - anything to stop people sleeping on the streets. It is winter, and health problems are getting worse. Macron has said France is a terre d’accueil (land of welcome), but refugees have no toilets or blankets. If they sleep on the pavement they have to do so standing up. Also 700 migrants are living rough in Calais. See

Published in Europe
Friday, 12 January 2018 11:22

Worsening violence in CAR

Violent flare-ups in Central African Republic (CAR) have sent thousands fleeing for their lives. The UN said that over 5,000 refugees have arrived in southern Chad since 27 December, fleeing from north-western CAR. Over 75,000 people were already in camps before the recent influx; many walked long distances to escape violence. Although the border is officially closed, as a humanitarian gesture authorities are allowing refugees to cross. Widespread human rights abuses are being reported, and UNHCR said that over 1.1 million people have been displaced, both within the country and as refugees. Because of the fighting, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) has had to suspend its work in the seven health centres in outlying districts of Paoua. An estimated 30,000 who fled dangerous outlying areas are now taking refuge in Paoua. See

Published in Worldwide
Friday, 05 January 2018 12:09

Germany: migrants and rise in violent crime

Research commissioned by the government suggests that migrants may be responsible for most of Germany's rise in violent crime. Researchers say the findings are not surprising because many migrants are single males aged 14-30. This group is most likely to commit crime, irrespective of nationality. Migrants are twice as likely to be reported to police for alleged violent crimes as German nationals, and a third of all victims of violent crimes by migrants are other migrants. The report comes as Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU/CSU, after its poor showing in the recent election, prepares for coalition talks with the centre-left SPD. Over a million migrants and refugees, fleeing war and abuses, have entered Germany through the open-door policy, which has led to tensions at home.

Published in Europe
Thursday, 30 November 2017 11:31

Uncertainty in Lebanon and the Middle East

Many people from around the world are contacting us to ask about the situation in Lebanon.

Lebanon is living under uncertainty; many people are living in fear and news of an imminent war is the talk of the town. On the 4th of November the Lebanese prime minister surprisingly presented his resignation while in Saudi Arabia. This came as a shock to everyone as no one, not even the president or high officials from his own political party knew about that. This is creating lots of suspicion that he is placed under house arrest in Saudi Arabia and that he is part of a political deal that will be put in effect shortly

The Lebanese president has requested international assistance for the release of the prime minister and while many tried to interfere it is to no avail.

The real problem is the escalating tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia and the fear is that Lebanon will be a proxy nation where the Sunni/ Shiite war will take place (same as what is happening with Yemen)

What about the prophetic role and the destiny of Lebanon? We believe that Lebanon is the door to the Middle East and that it is the place from where Christianity will spread to the whole Middle East. The church of Lebanon is used by God now to bring the gospel to countless number of refugees in the land and many are receiving gospels and are now believers in Jesus Christ who died for their sins.

We are first hand witnesses of God’s movement. This may not be the way we ever envisioned that the gospel will go forth but God’s ways are so different than our ways

Fear is rising and threats are real. Already, one in three people in Lebanon is a refugee and poverty is increasing among the Lebanese so a new war whether it is economic, political or military will be disastrous on the nation.

As far as we are concerned, we are continuing reaching out to people in need, restoring childhood to children and educating the leaders of tomorrow. we are still having several bible studies going on with refugees and we are still working out details of camp rent with the owner trying to put demands on him and trying to work a 6 months contract renewable if we see the situation needing us to stay there. We are also still going into Syria preparing for the return of Syrians there

Prayer requests

- That our prime minister would come back to Lebanon
- That our president will be strong and wise in his dealing with the present threat
- That Lebanon will not be used as a proxy nation for nations to settle their conflict
- That Syrians will go back into their own land safely
- That we will be ready for emergency response if needed
- That hearts will be open to the gospel of peace as it is so much needed now

The nations are in an uproar and the kings of the earth plot against the anointed one, they take their stand and take counsel together against the Lord, but the one who sits on the throne laughs at their rebellion - Psalm 2.

We are very happy to know that you are praying for us, for our nation and for the whole Middle East. Jesus is setting the stage for His return and we can’t but pray: come Lord Jesus Maranatha!

Thank you for your love, your care and your support.

A Lebanese Prayer Leader Friend of IPC