Access to Sanitation Still a Luxury for Nigerians

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the health and sanitation condition in Niger]

20130416_eprayer_n2

Open air defecation is a widespread hazard in Niger, especially in rural areas. Out of 15.5 million Nigerians, 14.1 million do not currently have access to proper toilets, while 79 percent resort to open air defecation. Contagious diseases are caused by a lack of sanitation and hygiene. Because money is needed to construct toilet and there is difficulty of maintaining the deep pit required for latrine, people living in rural Niger do not use toilet frequently   Aid agency attributes this to the government’s failure to honour previous financial commitments in the sanitation sector. [IPS]

Pray for the health and sanitation condition in Niger:

  • Pray for the improvement of health and sanitation in Niger as well as the awareness of Nigerians on health and hygiene;
  • Pray that the Nigerian government will achieve its target to increase the number of people with access to sanitation from six percent in 2009 to 25 percent per year by 2015.

The Plight of Undocumented Children in European Union

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the situation of undocumented children]

Palestinian children fly kites to show their solidarity with the Japanese people a year after the earthquake and tsunami.

It is estimated that there are between 1.6 and 3.8 million irregular migrants in the European Union. Many of them are children. Most come from other European countries like Turkey, Hungary and Romania, but a large number also come from Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. The reason for migration includes family reunification, protection from persecution, better living conditions, education and economic opportunities. A large number of these undocumented children, mostly from Hungary and Romania, are also victims of trafficking. They can be exploited in prostitution, forced labour, organised begging and can be compelled to commit crimes. [IPS]

Pray for the situation of undocumented children:

  • Pray that the basic human rights of these Europe’s ‘invisible’ children can be protected.
  • Pray also that they can have access to education, healthcare and shelter.
  • Pray that there can be effective measures to combat human trafficking and to reduce the risk of children.

Rwanda Unable to Accept Congolese Refugees

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the Congolese refugees]

eprayer20130404-n2

Camps in Rwanda hosting thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are running out of space following an influx of people fleeing insecurity in eastern DRC. Rwanda is hosting thousands of Congolese refugees in five sites. At least 25,000 Congolese entered Rwanda from eastern DRC in 2012. The influx added to the approximately 43,000 refugees – mainly Congolese – already in the country. According to UNHCR, the security situation in DRC limits the refugees’ prospects for return. Rwandan official expressed a need to find alternative solutions since the existing camps have been declared full. [IRIN]

Pray for the Congolese refugees:

  • Pray for God’s protection to the refugees in the Rwanda.
  • Pray for long lasting peace in DRC and Congolese so that people do not need to escape their home country.

New Strategies to Cope with Hunger and Nutrition Problems

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for world food supply and nutrition strategy]

Peacekeeping - UNMIT

The alterations in the diets of urban people prompted by urbanisation, economic growth and lifestyle changes have to a certain extent cause over half a billion who are obese and susceptible to non-communicable diseases. Integrated nutrition strategies, formed with the inputs of society including the private sector, consumers, doctors, and consumer organisations as a whole, are needed to help people cope with this problem. However, at the same time, there are 870 million people suffer from hunger worldwide; most of them are living in rural areas. Around two billion people live on about 500 million farms around the world, most of them are very poor subsistence producers. It is important to understand how crucial the role that farmers play for enhancing the sustainability of food supply; and empower them to develop a sustainable production models base on their specific environmental conditions to maintain high productive rates. [UN, FAO]

Pray for world food supply and nutrition strategy:

  • Pray that all sectors of society can work together to form new  nutrition strategies to cope with changing diets;
  • Pray also that more people would know the importance of traditional crops apart from commodity crops.
  • Pray that people would not rely only on science and technology to drive agricultural productivity but realise the importance of the role that farmers play and respect their views & advices.

Environmental Threats Could Push Billions into Extreme Poverty

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for the intensifying environment threats]

International Environment Day

A UN report said more than 40 countries have done better than previously expected on the UN’s human development index (HDI), which combines measures of health, wealth and education, with gains accelerating over the past decade. Yet the report warned that the number of people living in extreme poverty could increase by up to 3 billion by 2050 unless urgent action is taken to tackle environmental challenges. It said climate change is already exacerbating chronic environmental threats, and ecosystem losses are constraining livelihood opportunities, especially for poor people. Inaction on climate change, deforestation, and air and water pollution could end gains in the world’s poorest countries and communities. [Guardian]

Pray for the intensifying environment threats:

  • Pray for prompt actions taken by all nations to tackle environmental challenges;
  • Pray also for those especially the poor who are affected and suffer from environmental threats.

Time for Action to End Violence Against Women

Posted on by 施達基金會

[ePrayer – Pray for women vulnerable to violence]

20130307_eprayer_n1

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. However, worldwide today, 603 million women live in countries where domestic violence is not yet considered a crime; up to 70% of women in the world report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence; up to 50% of sexual assaults are committed against girls under the age of 16; over 60 million girls worldwide are married before the age of 18….

The theme of this year International Women’s Day (8 March) ’A promise is a promise: Time for action to end violence against women’ seeks to strengthen international community’s commitment to put an end to violence against women. The UN also organizes UNiTE campaign, calling on all governments, civil society, women’s organisations, men, young people, the private sector, the media, etc. to join forces in addressing this global issue. [UN]

Pray for women vulnerable to violence:

  • Pray for God’s protection and deliverance to them;
  • Pray that international society will face up to all forms of violence and discrimination against women and secure the rights and safety of women by legislation, enforcement, education, social network and assistance, etc.

CEDAR will organise a sharing on ‘Walking with Women in South Asia’ on 28 March night. Please come and join us.