[ePrayer – Pray for the sexual violence in conflict]
The UN’s Security Council sent a strong signal to perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict that their crimes will not be tolerated and the Council is adopting a new resolution to strengthen efforts to end impunity for a scourge that affects not only large numbers of women and girls but also men and boys. The new resolution emphasized more consistent and rigorous investigation and prosecution of sexual violence crimes as a central aspect of deterrence, and ultimately prevention. Today, it is still largely ‘cost-free’ to rape a woman, child or man in conflict. Angelina Jolie, the Special Envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who emphasized that tackling war-zone sexual violence is the Council’s responsibility, as well as the duty of Governments in countries affected by it. She calls to set rape and sexual violence in conflict as a priority, and combat the crime. [UN News]
Pray for the sexual violence in conflict:
Pray that the Security Council will wisely utilise its authorities, address the sexual crimes in conflict, and coordinate the governments to end impunity.
Pray that the governments of the nations will establish comprehensive and effective legal system. Pray that they can protect the citizens from sexual violence and make the perpetrators prosecuted.
Hit hard by hot and dry weather, farmers near Laos’s capital are looking for new ways to adapt to climate change and protect their cash crops as the temperature in recent months rose above 40 degrees Celsius. Weather experts say that irregular weather patterns since 2007 have caused the monsoon season in Laos, typically first seen in mid-May, to come as early as March or as late as June. A recent study on climate change in the lower Mekong Basin (including parts of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam) identified climate change ‘hotspots’ where conditions will become unsuitable for crops currently grown there. The study projected higher-than-global average temperature increases in the basin (a 4-6 Celsius degree jump versus the global estimate of a two degree increase), which will mean dramatic changes in the comfort zone of crops. It could have serious negative consequences for the livelihoods, health and food security of the local communities in these areas.
Pray for Laos farmers:
Pray that the community can explore and adapt new planting methods, which can combat the negative effects of climate change.
Laos government is encouraging farmers to abandon pesticides and chemical fertilizer, and adopt organic farming. Pray that more farmers will support the government’s call and love the land resource. May God give them a secured livelihood.
Early monsoon rains have caused massive flooding and landslides in northern India’s Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh states and Nepal since mid-June 2013, affecting tens of thousands of people. The state of Uttarakhand in India suffered maximum damage. More than 1,000 people have reportedly died with many more missing. Damage to bridges and roads left over 70,000 pilgrims and tourists trapped in various places, of whom, many are waiting to be rescued. About 22,000 local people are said to be still stranded. In Nepal, 39 people have been killed and more than 1,700 families have been displaced. CEDAR partner EFICOR has sent a team to Uttarakhand making need assessment. Integral Alliance, a global Christian network coordinating the disaster relief response, is monitoring the situation closely.
Remember the India flooding in prayer:
May His comfort and protection go to the victims and those who lost their families in the flood.
Pray for His strength that EFICOR and other CEDAR partners can respond to the relief effectively and efficiently.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
The Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) signed a tentative peace agreement with the Myanmar government in late May, the last of the 11 major ethnic armed groups to do so since 2011. Key issues are yet to discuss including how to develop an equitable peace economy and proper regulation and management of Kachin’s rich natural resources. CEDAR partner KLCC has been taking care of displaced families who take shelter at church compounds, school hostel and displaced camps.
Pray for Kachin community in Myanmar:
Pray that the peace agreement will secure lasting peace in the country.
Pray for God’s provision as KLCC start to secure new land to settle displaced families in Government allocated area.
Pray that God to raise up HK churches/Christians to partner with CEDAR to respond to needs in Kachin State.
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
CEDAR’s China programme staff talks with quake survivors about their hardships and needs.
Apart from causing severe damage to infrastructures, the Sichuan Yaan Quake which took place on 20 April had resulted in serious psychological trauma among quake affected communities. In May, CEDAR’s China programme staff visited Shuangshi Town in Lushan County, Sichuan and discovered that many quake survivors have symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) such as intense fear, sleeplessness, irascibility, agitation, etc.
The powerful 7 magnitude earthquake not only destroyed the new three-storey house of Li Qiong and her husband, it also caused the death of her nearly one-month old baby boy. After this tragedy, Li Qiong seldom talk with neighbours. She has no facial expression while looking at villagers playing with their children or grandchildren. The presence of CEDAR’s staff provides a chance for her to pour out her sadness.
Shuangshi Town is located at mountainous area which lags behind in economic growth. Young villagers usually go to other places for work, leaving the elderly, women and children there. With limited medical service in remote mountainous villages, many elderly who live alone always worry about their health; because of low education level and the lack of social supporting network, local female mostly feel helpless to take care of the elderly and young children on their own. In addition to the psychological trauma caused by the quake, there is an urgent need of providing timely care and counseling among affected villagers.
Uncle Yang, 67-year old, lives in a tent with two grandchildren. It took him 18 years to refurbish and built his house. Unfortunately, the second floor has been totally collapsed after the quake. While talking about future, uncle Yang felt hopeless.
In order to save resources and address environmental concern, local government has decided not to build temporary prefabricated houses for quake survivors. This implies homeless quake victims may need to live in temporary tents for more than a year till their new houses are constructed or repaired. It is easy to imagine the kind of physical and psychological threats that quake victims will face when living long time in the open area.
A tent made by quake survivors
Tents are set up in the field and muddy land. In daytime, villagers go out for work. At night, it is not easy for them to sleep well with mosquitoes, insects, raindrops, sound of snoring, crying children and the threat of aftershock.
Villagers prepare the meals together in their temporary kitchen
CEDAR received a grant from HKSAR Disaster Relief Fund Advisory Committee for the second phase of relief distribution, working with local churches & Christian groups in Sichuan to deliver bottles of oil, plastic sheets, metal food tanks and sanitary items for women, targeting 2 administrative villages with 426 household in Tianquan County and 4 administrative villages with 2,880 households in Lushan County.
For the post-disaster rehabilitation, CEDAR will provide case referral and counseling service, organise community self-help groups, conduct community education activities, provide psychological and social support to children and youth, elderly and women in disaster areas to reduce the phenomenon of PTSD.
Please continue to remember the hardships and needs of quake victims, support our service among the quake affected communities done in partnership with Sichuan churches and Christian groups and to walk with the victims and rebuild their living together.
Relief Donation
Cheque payable to ‘CEDAR FUND’
Deposit to HSBC A/C No. 600-385678-001, enclosing with the Pay-in slip
[1] CEDAR is an approved charitable institutions and trusts of a public character under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance. Please click Inland Revenue Department website to check for details. [2] Donations over $100 are tax deductible in Hong Kong with our receipts. [3] Please DO NOT fax any donation information.
Contact Method
Tel>23819627 Fax>23922777 Email>sharing@cedarfund.org Add>G.P.O. Box 3212Hong Kong
[ePrayer – Pray for the world’s malnourished children]
The numbers of humans living on less than $1.25 a day is expected to be halved by 2015, a success for a Millennium Development Goal target set in 2000, however, economic growth does not necessarily reduce hunger especially among the world’s poorest. Under-nutrition is the biggest underlying cause of death in children under five in the world, responsible for 8,000 child deaths each day. In India, child malnutrition has increased in the past decade, despite its economic boom. A report in 2013 estimated that stunting, a form of malnutrition which causes a child to be too small for his or her age, affected at least 165 million children worldwide in 2011, with Africa and Asia showing the highest prevalence. It is said that countries will not be able to break out of poverty or sustain economic advances when so much of their population is unable to achieve the nutritional security that is needed for a healthy and productive life. [Guardian, BBC]
Pray for the world’s malnourished children :
Pray that all nations will be committed to supporting reduction in malnutrition to help achieve poverty eradication ;
Pray also that child’s nutrition will be improved in order to ensure their lives, health and development.
