[Today's Prayer] 100 Days Since the Bloody Clash in Sudan... "1 Child Killed or Injured Every Hour"

Today marks the 100th day since the outbreak of bloody clashes between armed factions in Sudan. However, there is still no clear resolution in sight, and the number of victims continues to rise, with children being heavily affected.

According to UNICEF, since the conflict erupted on April 15, 435 children have lost their lives, and at least 2,500 children have been injured, making it an alarming rate of 1 child killed or injured every hour.

UNICEF estimates that the actual scale of casualties is likely to be much higher, and they report that around 14 million children are currently in need of humanitarian assistance. They stated, "Children are being killed, injured, and abducted every day," and the situation requires constant monitoring because essential infrastructures, including schools and hospitals, are being destroyed and looted. It is estimated that this crisis has created around 1.7 million child refugees.

(Obmitted)

Over half of Sudan's total population of 48 million is in dire need of humanitarian assistance for survival. The damages are severe as medical facilities, such as hospitals, have been heavily affected and often became target of direct attacks.

(Obmitted)

The conflict started on April 15 when the Sudanese government forces led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commanded by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo got involved in armed clashes over the issue of civilian power transition.

The international community has attempted mediation, but the armed conflict has not ceased. Peace talks were held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with mediation from the United States and Saudi Arabia. Both sides have agreed to several short-term ceasefires, but the promises have been largely unkept, and the talks came to halt last month. On the 15th of this month, the government forces arrived in Jeddah to resume talks, but the participation of RSF has not been confirmed yet.

Source: Kyunghyang Shinmun

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” (Mark 8:1-3)

Lord, it’s been 100 days since the outbreak of the bloody clash in Sudan and we hear the news that there is still no clear resolution in sight, with the number of victims increasing, especially that of the children.

Every day, children are killed, injured, and abducted and the Sudanese are in need of humanitarian support as their major infrastructures and necessities are destroyed.

Lord, may the wars and internal conflicts quickly come to an end and may the peace and reconciliation of the Kingdom of God reign upon this land.

Have mercy on the Sudanese children who are suffering due to the unceasing bloody conflicts, and may the needed support and the gospel reach them from all over the world.

May you send your servants who would serve them with the heart of Jesus, who had compassion on the large crowd without food and fed them. Where there is no worship, may you restore the true worship that would drive out the death and the darkness.

Lord, intervene in all the areas of conflicts in Sudan caused by human thoughts and greed.

May the mercy and power of our Lord Jesus, who fed the four thousands with the seven loaves of bread, restore all Sudanese children and may they rise as a nation that praise the Lord.