Death Toll in Syria Rises over Ramadan.

At least 224 people have been killed in the first week of Ramadan in Syria, with the majority of the deaths resulting from bombings by Syrian and Russian war planes, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor.

The Observatory reported on Monday that, since the start of Ramadan on 6th June, at least 148 civilians, including 50 children and 15 women, were killed as helicopters dropped “explosive barrel” bombs.

It added that at least 12 people had been killed in shelling by rebels and fighters from ISIL, and at least one man has been executed by ISIL in the same period.

The death toll includes casualties from air strikes on a market in Idlib city, in which at least 40 civilians died on Sunday. Activists say most of those victims were women and children.

Several monitoring groups, as well as Turkish authorities, accused Russia of conducting the air strikes in Idlib, but Russian authorities denied any involvement.

The Observatory report comes as hundreds of civilians are fleeing the ISIL stronghold of Manbij in northern Syria, and as fears grow for the thousands who remain trapped in the city, which is besieged by US-backed Kurdish and Arab forces.

Since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, the death toll has risen to more than 280,000 people, and half the country’s population have been forced from their homes, according to UN estimates.

• Pray for an end to the conflict in Syria and for hope for her people and their future.
• Pray for the cease fire that is supposed to be still in force, that all sides will respect it.
• Pray for a desire on all sides of the conflict for a peaceful settlement to the political upheaval in this nation, and for good and Godly government to be formed that will seek the good of all Syrians.
• Pray that aid convoys will be allowed into besieged cities to deliver food, medical aid and other much need supplies to those who desperately need it.
• Pray for comfort for those who mourn, for the Holy Spirit to move in this troubled land, and for many to call upon His name and find a place of refuge in the loving arms of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 82 vs 3 – 4: “Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.’”

Source: http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016