PRAY AND ACT

There have been some disturbing developments in the Darfur region of Sudan over the past couple of days. I have written about the situation in the past. You are probably aware of events from news reports. Below are two seperate reports. One comes from Fox News and the other from the Save Darfur web site. This continues to be the greatest humantiarian crisis in the world. Greater pressure has to be put upon the Sudanese Government. Please PRAY for President Bush and his staff that he would have the wisdom to make decisions that will improve the situation. Also, pray for those who are ministering in the area. Please ACT by making your elected representatives aware of your concerns. After Bosnia and Rwanda we said, "never again." How quickly we forget!

September 28 from the Save Darfur Website
NYALA, Sudan (AP) -- Humanitarian groups are facing a new escalation of violence in Darfur, with more than a dozen of their vehicles hijacked in recent days and several employees abducted or critically wounded. Several aid groups are questioning how much longer they can go on amid the spiraling chaos. Most attacks occurred on roads to refugee camps housing some of the 2.5 million people chased from their homes by Darfur's warfare. But gunmen have also struck within Nyala, capital of South Darfur state. A driver from the Christian aid group World Vision was ambushed and his car hijacked in Nyala this week, as was another the week before. Three of the group's local employees were wounded, one critically, in a separate attack on a convoy Sept. 20.

September 30 from Fox World News
HASKANITA, SUDAN — Rebel forces stormed a small African Union base in northern Darfur and killed 10 peacekeepers in an unprecedented attack on the beleaguered mission that threatened key peace talks set for October. Several others were wounded and dozens were missing after about 1,000 rebels attacked the base in Haskanita late Saturday and eventually stormed it early Sunday, AU peacekeepers told The Associated Press in Haskanita.

The remaining AU peacekeepers were evacuated from the base under the protection of the Sudanese army, who routed the rebels out of the area. Some government troops could be seen plundering goods from the burned-out camp as an AU armored vehicle lay smoldering nearby. "This is the heaviest loss of life and the biggest attack on the African Union mission," said AU spokesman Noureddine Mezni. "Our troops fought a defensive battle to protect the camp, but 30 vehicles eventually stormed it. ... The camp is completely destroyed."

PRAY AND ACT --craig