The picture shows newly displaced children “at home” near Goma(Photo: © CMS)While images from Goma and Rutshuru dominated TV screens in the autumn, they have soon disappeared from the headlines. Dungu and Ituri need our prayers too says CMS regional manager for Mid-Africa Stephen Burgess
As in November, CMS calls on Christians to continue to pray:
Goma Situation
Pray for the people of Goma and Rutshuru, beset by fear, hunger, sickness - 250,000 have been displaced from their homes. Many homes have been burnt and crops destroyed by fighting. It is rainy season and the people lack adequate shelter and access to food, sanitation and medical services.
The picture shows newly displaced children "at home" near Goma. Their situation is bad enough but let us remember:
“The top United Nations official in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) today launched a new appeal for armed groups in the eastern region of the vast war-torn country to release all children remaining in their ranks.
"After meeting with a group of 20 children recently removed from the grasp of local militia in North Kivu, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for the DRC, Alan Doss, spoke on local UN-backed Radio Okapi calling for the return of all boys and girls fighting in the war zone.”
UN News service 13 Jan 2009
Remember the church leaders and workers, and aid workers, who are trying to provide for this huge displaced population.
Pray for the Rwanda and DRC Governments, Presidents Kagame and Kabila and the rebel leader, Laurent Nkunda of CNDP, as well as other FDLR/ Interhamwe and Mayi Mayi rebel groups, to engage in dialogue. The UN-brokered meetings in Nairobi in December led to a cessation of the fighting and a way forward agreed, including the disarming and repatriation of the Hutu rebel groups.
The UN has agreed to strengthen its 17,000 strong MONUC force by 3,000 soldiers, but it is up to the international community to supply the troops.
Dungu Situation
The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have waged a 20-year war with
the Ugandan army. In recent years, they have set up bases in
DR Congo, Southern Sudan and Central African Republic near Dungu.
A joint army comprised of soldiers from Sudan, Uganda and Congo has captured more LRA fighters in the on-going military offensive, launched on 14 December 2008, against the rebels in the Garamba National Park in north-east Congo.
This military initiative is being effective against the LRA, but the civilian population of NE Congo and Maridi in Southern Sudan are being traumatised. Villagers have fled to seek security in Maridi town; others have fled to refugee centres in Congo - it is always the innocent who suffer.
A UNHCR spokesman said, “Rough estimates of the number of forcibly displaced in the area have now surpassed 104,000. Many of these internally displaced people are still hiding in the bush, particularly in areas around the town of Faradje which was heavily hit during the Christmas period."
UN News Service 13 January 2009Pray for peace and justice in northern Uganda. Pray for the efforts of President Museveni and the governments of Uganda, Congo and Sudan and Central African Republic to succeed in bringing an end to this conflict caused by the LRA.
Pray that during this time of insecurity, people would turn to the Lord and be strengthened in their faith
Situation in Ituri Region
The situation in this area is peaceful, but there is an ongoing need for reconciliation and peace.
Pray for those who are working for peace and stability in the area of Bunia, especially the church leaders who speak in the powerful name of Jesus.
A Prayer for the People of D R Congo
O God,
Loving parent of all,
comfort your children
displaced, wounded, lost or orphaned by conflict in DR Congo;
and give the people of that country
courage to seek enduring peace with justice and freedom,
that their children might grow up without fear,
for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ
Amen
(Adapted from a Prayer from the Congo Swahili Prayer Book 1998)