5th December 2025

Florence Gillette, the head of the ICRC delegation in South Sudan has told the UN that the use of aircraft and barrel bombs had intensified in South Sudan, displacing hundreds of thousands.  The humanitarian situation in South Sudan is “continually degrading,” with conflict occurring in seven out of the country’s ten states and  a sharp rise in casualties from airstrikes and ground fighting. 57% of the population face food insecurity.  On Wednesday morning, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) healthcare facility in Pieri, Jonglei state, was hit during an airstrike. MSF teams also witnessed additional airstrikes in Lankien (around 60 kilometres away).  Fortunately there were no casualties from these strikes, but recent airstrike shows a pattern in which healthcare facilities are repeatedly targeted. Emmerson Gono, MSF Deputy Head of Mission in South Sudan said, "We call for the immediate protection of medical infrastructure, staff and patients in South Sudan." The international Red Cross has conducted more than 25,000 surgeries on 5,000 persons wounded by weapons over the past eight years. The crisis in South Sudan is now being compounded by the arrival of some 1.2 million people who have fled the conflict in neighbouring Sudan, many living in dire conditions. 

Loving God, Our Heavenly Father, you challenge us to love our neighbour, to do good, and to seek justice, so we bring to you our love and concerns for our neighbours in South Sudan. We are sad that so many live each day in fear of attack, death and destruction.  We cry with those who are hungry and all who desperately need medical care. We ask for your loving care for all crossing into South Sudan to escape war in Sudan. May they have food, water, support and a secure place to stay. Shelter with your love all who have had to leave their homes and face an uncertain future. May all with power and resources to act for good turn their attention to this crisis.  May the supplies and assistance that are so desperately needed come quickly. Strengthen through your spirit all who are pursuing peace. We pray that the international community will not forget, or turn their backs on, the people of South Sudan but support the Red Cross, MSF and others who are seeking to bring humanitarian aid and support and work with the authorities to bring peace.  in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 

In Washington USA yesterday the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace deal aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the region.  Previous attempts to make peace between Rwanda and the DRC have failed. The deal will mark the end of a more than 30-year conflict in eastern DRC that dates back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Officially known as the Washington Accords, the agreement includes the disengagement and disarmament of non-state armed groups, joint security coordination, the return of refugees, the enabling of humanitarian assistance, as well as the implementation of a regional economic integration framework. 

A prayer based on  Psalm 65

Our God, we praise you

You take care of the earth

and send rain to help the soil

grow all kinds of crops.

Your rivers never run dry,

and you prepare the earth

to produce abundant grain.

You water all its fields and level the lumpy ground.

You send showers of rain

to soften the soil and help the plants sprout.

Wherever your footsteps touch the earth,

a rich harvest is gathered.

Desert pastures blossom, and mountains celebrate.

Meadows are filled with sheep and goats;

valleys overflow with grain and echo with joyful songs.

When our sins get us down, you forgive us.

Our God, you save us,

and you answer our prayers.

You give hope to people

everywhere on earth.

 We celebrate and sing because of you.

Amen.