We all have our new year wishes in 2017, and praying for a better and more peaceful world is often an afterthought preceded by wishing a better life for ourselves. It was understandable as peacefulness comes much easier to us than to the Syrians living in Aleppo, the battleground of multiple military groups that had just agreed to cease fire recently in last December.

The truce allowed the citizens and combatants to evacuate peacefully for the first time in 6 years since the start of the civil war. However, the tension remains as the militants still hold their parameters in different parts of the city, and the government has yet to provide or allow humanitarian relief to the region under its control with the anti-government and ISIS forces occupying its surroundings.

Even if the ceasefire is permanent, to restore the city to an acceptable condition for living still takes tremendous amount of time and resources, hence the citizens who lost their homes are still far from glimpsing the end of it.

Pray for Aleppo:

• Pray for lasting peace for the city and pray for all the parties involved that they would prioritize the needs of the innocent.
• Pray for God’s protection for the citizens and for the speedy deployment of humanitarian help.
• Pray for those who are most vulnerable in Aleppo, namely the women and children, that their mind and body could be recovered and preserved.
• Pray that God would raise awareness internationally and lead more people to support the relief efforts in Aleppo.

Sources:

http://theinitium.com/article/20161214-dailynews-aleppo/
Situation of children in Aleppo: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38365489
Aleppo before and after war: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38396747
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-38408548