15th August 2026

South Sudan faces one of the world's worst hunger crises, the World Food Programme and the U.N. refugee agency said yesterday. More than 7.8 million people, over half the country's population, are experiencing acute food insecurity, while 2.2 million children are acutely malnourished. The situation will be exacerbated by more than 650,000 refugees and asylum seekers in South Sudan losing food aid access within weeks due to a severe funding shortfall.  The UN warned that these refugees will be forced to return to war-torn Sudan in search of help.  "This is not a future scenario. It is sadly a reality that will hold within weeks," Adham Effendi, WFP's deputy country director in South Sudan, told reporters. Families are already reducing meals, selling belongings, withdrawing children from school and taking on debt to survive, and women and children face heightened risks of exploitation and abuse. $37 million funding gap for refugee operations between October and December. From October, food assistance for about 180,000 internally displaced people will cease, while by November some 600,000 people living in famine-risk areas could lose life-saving support, Effendi said. UNHCR Deputy Representative Mesfin Degefu said that if funding does not materialise, no refugees in South Sudan will be receiving food assistance from October.

Loving God, how is it that the world can place peole of your creation in such a vulnerable position. Guide all with power to makea difference to makea difference.  May they heed the warns of the UN and make the financial contributions that are necessary. Help us all to show love an compassion to our neighbours, wherever they are, whatever their need. Continually remind us that when we feed the hungry we feed Christ himself. Forgive us that we can always find money to fight wars, but find it so difficult to find the funds to feed the hungry. In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Kevin Rideout is an American missionary who was kidnapped in Niger's capital, Niamey, on 21 October by three armed men although no group claimed responsibility for his abduction. However, the Good News is that he has now been released. Kevin Rideout “is in good health in the care of US officials” and would soon be reunited with his extended family, SIM International said in a statement.

A prayer based on Psalm 71:14-24

I praise you more and more.

I tell of your goodness;

all day long I will speak of your salvation,

although it is more than I can understand.

I proclaim your goodness, yours alone.

Your righteousness, O God, reaches the skies.

You have done great things;

there is no one like you.

I praise you with the harp;

I play hymns to you,

Holy One of Israel.

I praise your faithfulness, my God.

I shout for joy as I play for you;

I sing to you with my whole being

because you have saved me.

I will speak of your righteousness all day long.  Amen