Refugees from South Sudan look at a photo montage depicting the conflict in their country at a refugee settlement in Uganda
This past week, members of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who read Prayerline have been praying for South Sudan – please join them and learn more of the tragedy facing one of newest African nations…
The United Nations has warned that the world’s newest nation is “at risk of outright ethnic war, and of genocide being committed”. South Sudan, which became independent from Sudan in July 2011, has struggled to achieve stable government due to ethnic and political divisions between the country’s two major ethnic groups, the Dinka and Nuer. Civil war broke out in the country in December 2013, and since then tens of thousands of people have been killed and around 2.4 million people driven from their homes. Despite a peace agreement signed in August last year, violence broke out in the capital Juba in July and has spread to other parts of the country.
After almost three years, the devastating economic and humanitarian effects of the war are deepening across the whole country. An estimated 4.3 million people are now in need to food aid, as harvests have been disturbed for yet another year, and the economic downturn in the country is continuing, with inflation now at 700%.
Pray for peace in South Sudan. Pray that the warring political factions will have the will to work for a lasting peace and that an outright ethnic war and further acts of genocide will be avoided.
Pray for those suffering displacement from their homes and who are in need of humanitarian relief, especially those facing food shortages. Pray that each person will receive the assistance they need.
Pray for work of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan (PCOSS), as they continue encouraging peace and good relations between communities, and for wisdom and guidance for its leadership team seeking to lead the church during such difficult times.
Pray too for our partners Christian Aid and Tearfund who are working daily in South Sudan providing humanitarian assistance to those in need.
Text from PCI Prayerline: Published Wednesday, 16th November 2016
Read full text and more on the PCI website
For more information on the work of Christian Aid and Tearfund in South Sudan go to:
Christian Aid – South Sudan | Tearfund – South Sudan
John 20:21 