Prayer for Sri Lanka

The following comes from Tearfund and informs our ongoing prayer at St John's Seven Kings for the situation in Sri Lanka:

Fears are growing that the aid operation for people uprooted by Sri Lanka’s civil war will last years not months.

A Tearfund partner working with tens of thousands of those displaced by the long-running conflict anticipates support will be needed for at least three years.

More than 280,000 people have been made homeless in the war between the country’s military and the Tamil Tigers since last October.

Tearfund is supporting local partners who’ve been bringing the compassion of Christ to those in the government-controlled displacement camps of Sri Lanka.

Partners like Leads who’ve been providing for physical needs, like food, water, clothing and hygiene packs. Lately they’ve been building temporary shelters for families, to replace tents, as well as school classrooms, kitchens and medical centres.

The need for more substantial shelter reflects the reality that the Tamil community in the displacement camps faces a lengthy wait before being allowed back to their home areas. This is because the government continues operations in the areas previously held by the Tamil Tigers to search for mines and concealed weapons.

In Vavuniya, Leads is looking to provide agricultural training, seeds for seven varieties of vegetables and organic fertiliser for 1,500 families so they can supplement their diet.

Please use the following points to guide your prayers:

• Please pray that those living in displacement camps are allowed to return to their homes soon and resume their normal lives. Pray that those separated from loved ones by the war are reunited with their families.
• Pray for funding to continue that will enable Tearfund to maintain support for our Sri Lankan partners.
• Pray for the blessing of their work as they bring spiritual and material hope to Sri Lankans who have in many cases lost family, friends, homes and possessions.
• Give thanks that the Sri Lankan authorities are enabling partners such as Leads to continue their work. Praise God that partners are improving facilities in government-controlled camps.
• Pray for the strength and encouragement of partner staff working in difficult conditions, facing considerable emotional strain.

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T Bone Burnett - Earlier Baghdad (The Bounce).