Syria

Please continue to pray for His solution for Syria as peace talks are scheduled for January 22, 2014. Up to now such negotiations have not yielded any agreement. Pray that weariness with the war will cause both sides to cooperate in bringing an end to this tragic conflict that has left an estimated 110,000 dead and several million homeless within Syria or refugees in neighboring nations. “We have not seen a refugee outflow escalate at such a frightening rate since the Rwandan genocide…” – Antonio Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The United Nations reports: “More than 2 million people, over half of whom are children, are now refugees after fleeing the terrible violent war in Syria. These children, women and men have made perilous journeys across country borders in search of safety. They are traumatized and fearful for their lives. Many are also physically wounded or suffering from illness and disease.” 2.5 million are in areas still cut off from any humanitarian relief.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and other humanitarian organizations are working hard to keep the millions who have fled safe, and to provide immediate and urgent aid like shelter, food and medical care, but more resources are needed. “As the exodus of Syrian refugees continues to escalate, many millions more remain displaced within their own country and are also in need of life-saving aid. We are concerned about the children in particular – they are at greater risk of forced labor, sexual exploitation and trafficking. We need to be able to prioritize specialist child services to ensure their safety.”

Let us pray for these peace talks to go ahead and be productive, resulting in a transitional government. Pray that that evil forces (both human and spiritual) of death and destruction will be bound and unable to continue stirring up more war and suffering for the Syrian people.