Donar
Donar

The world is witnessing unprecedented numbers of refugees, many of whom are fleeing severe religious freedom violations. So much of the media’s focus has been on asking, “Where will they go?” We believe that to tackle the crisis we need to ask, “What made them flee in the first place, and how can we address this?” One reason is the increase in violations of religious freedom in many countries. This is the driving force behind our Real Change for Refugees campaign.

Recently the UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said, “Instability leads to extremism, war lords and eventually to terrorist groups and then you end up with mass migration. So you have to deal with the problem further back.” Please pray that the UK government would take a leading role in effectively tackling the root causes of the refugee crisis.

Today we’re praying for the 65 million refugees around the world. No matter what their reasons for fleeing their country, their journeys are often long and dangerous and their futures uncertain. Ask God to give them the sanctuary and refuge they’re seeking.

Burma’s Rohingya Muslims have been stripped of their citizenship: they’re a stateless people. Many live in terrible conditions in camps within Burma, or flee by boat, risking a dangerous journey on the open seas in search of safety. Pray that Burma’s government would lift restrictions on aid to the camps, and provide much-needed help to the 140,000 Rohingyas living as refugees in their own country.

Since 2012 there’s been a dramatic rise in violence against Rohingya Muslims and Christians in Kachin state. Many are now forced to leave in refugee camps inside Burma, with little access to food, medicine or healthcare. Let’s pray today that their precarious situations would be transformed, and the hope of a certain future restored.

Eritrea is one of the largest refugee-generating countries in the world despite a shoot-to-kill border policy – meaning border guards can shoot anyone who tries to escape the country – and the absence of any civil or humanitarian crisis. But it’s such an incredibly repressive country that around 5,000 people every month risk fleeing anyway. Please pray for Eritreans who’ve been forced to leave their homes and families in search of safety.

Many of the Eritrean refugees we met this summer are traumatised and still live in fear. They were scared not only for themselves, but for the lives of the loved ones they left behind. Pray today that God would replace that fear with his peace which passes understanding.

God, today we pray for those who have been forced to flee their homes. Protect them on their journeys, Lord, and help them reach somewhere where they can be safe. And please move powerfully in their home countries so that no one would have to leave their home because of what they believe. Amen.