[Today’s Prayer] From Sudan to Gaza... 75.9 million domestic refugees, ‘highest number since counting’

Last year, due to the impact of the civil war in Sudan and the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, the number of 'internally displaced persons' around the world was found to be the highest since related statistics began.

The Internal Refugee Monitoring Center (IDMC), headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, announced in its annual report released on the 14th (local time) that the number of internal refugees around the world is estimated to be 75.9 million as of the end of 2023.

IDMC explained that this is an increase from 71.1 million at the end of 2022 and the highest number since related statistics began in 2008. The number of internal refugees worldwide has increased by 51% in the five years since the end of 2018 (503 million).

Internal refugees refer to people who have lost their home and been driven to another part of the country due to various armed conflicts, violence, disasters, etc., such as war. Unlike regular refugees who cross the border to another country, they do not receive protection from the international community.

(Omitted)

As of the end of last year, out of a total of 75.9 million domestic refugees, 60.83 million had left their homes due to conflict and violence, and 7.7 million had left their homes due to disasters and calamities.

By country, the largest number were Sudan (9.1 million people), Syria (7.2 million people), Democratic Republic of the Congo (6.7 million people), Colombia (5.1 million people), and Yemen (4.5 million people).

By region, almost half of all internal refugees lived in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the last two years, we have seen an alarming increase in the number of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and violence,” IDMC said. “Conflict and the destruction it causes prevents millions of people from rebuilding their lives, often lasting for years.”

Source: yunhap news

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. (Psalm 68:19-20)

Father God, the savior of all nations, we hear the news that the number of refugees around the world last year is estimated at 75.9 million due to the civil war in Sudan, war in Gaza, other conflicts and disasters.

We pray for your mercy and protection upon the refugees who are not even protected by the international community even though they have lost their families and homes due to war, various armed conflicts, violence, and disasters.

As the times get darker in this end time and there are more famines, wars and earthquakes, refugees all over the world have no one to rely amid the suffering and trials. We pray that they may find the truth in you and that they would meet God who responds to their groaning.

As they come before you who daily bears our burdens, you will surely save them from death into light!

Though they may be refugees on this earth, may you raise them up as the deliverers of the gospel. Through the refugees all over the world, may the kingdom gospel be witnessed unto all peoples!