Fighting Update and Prayer Requests

The situation in the Ubangi Region of the Congo seems to be deteriorating. Fighting has been reported 50 miles from the Elikya Center in Tandala, where the hospital is. The towns where the fighting began are virtually empty. Another update from Dr. Tom on the situation in Congo:

What started supposedly as a few villages fighting over fishing ponds in a very remote corner of the Ubangi has escalated to overt serious fighting which has moved to larger population centers.

Gemena: The women and children of CECU leadership have largely evacuated to places some distance from the city. The men remain near the offices of the CECU and hope to protect them from pillaging and theft. The police have set up barriers on every road out of Gemena, hoping to encourage people to stay in the city and not flee. They also hope to prevent the advance of the insurgents. Monday and Tuesday there had been numbers of people fleeing. Some markets are open but most schools are closed. So far there has not been one shot fired in the city.

Government action: Alan Doss is the Special Representative for the UN Secretary General to Congo. He oversees all the UN work in Congo. He reported today that the UN is concerned because the rebels seem to have obtained heavy war weapons and seem to have some people who know how to use them, inflicting serious damage. As he said: “These are not just coupe-coupes (machetes used to cut grass.)” He stated that the UN and the government must be prepared for every possible eventuality.

Refugee situation: There are now at least 115,000 reported refugees from the Dongo and Imese areas, many of whom are in Congo Brazzaville. However, that number is likely much too low if we count all those who have fled or are fleeing their homes to go live in their remote gardens in the forests as the fighting advances. Many NGO agencies are working with the refugees in Congo Brazzaville, but little has been done yet in our Congo due to the active state of the war.

General observations:
· At this point virtually everyone is in a self-preservation mode. As the fighting advances people flee wherever they can to get away. This is usually to remote gardens or villages where the soldiers or rebels are unlikely to follow.
· There is increasing concern that this is more than just a few tribes fighting over fishing rights. The exact motive remains unclear, even to the government.

Please continue to pray...
· For a quick end to the fighting
· For the government leaders and the UN that they will make wise decisions to help bring peace
· For President Bosokpale and the CECU leaders as they assess how to react to each new situation that arises
· For wisdom to know how we can help from afar
· For safety for the various church leaders and people in the churches as well as their families
· For the many who are injured, violated and harmed in this war as they try to recover
· For the pastors and leaders as they try to help their people deal with the trauma of what they have gone through
· For the doctors at Tandala trying to deal with the huge influx of injured and refugees needing help


Pray also that the Lord would protect those that are helpless and who have no one to look after them. Pray for the orphans in the Global Fingerprints program. Pray that He would guard their lives and keep them from harm.