Syria(b): UN seeks host countries for refugees
The 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
In 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
Extremist 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
The 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
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%
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)