15th April 2026

Today marks three years of civil war in Sudan. Around 15 million people have been displaced with about 4.5 million crossing into Chad, South Sudan, and Egypt.34 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.  Sexual violence has been a feature of the conflict. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 21 million people in Sudan face acute food insecurity, including 6.3 million in emergency conditions.  The war began with a power struggle between Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) an estimated 40,000 people have been killed. Health services are severely impacted, with only 63% of health facilities operational amid outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.  Fighting continues across large parts of the country, including Darfur, the Kordofan regions and Blue Nile state. UNHCR’s representative in Sudan, Marie-Helene Verney, said: “Unfortunately, we are not seeing clear progress towards any resolution”. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said in a statement from Berlin, that the world has “failed to meet the test of Sudan”. Denise Brown, the U.N. official in Sudan, expressed concern over the international community's lack of attention, stating, “A plea from me: Please don’t call this the forgotten crisis. I’m referring to this as an abandoned crisis.” 

Father God, we lift up Sudan and pray for stability in the region. May those who covet power and those who seek to fight choose to walk the path of peace. Bring justice and healing to this divided land, we pray. Out of this darkness, we pray that light will come. We pray for a government that respects equality and religious freedom. May Your church in this land reflect Your humility, forgiveness and love, and so act as a signpost to the possibility of a different way of life. Bring hope for those who feel helpless, healing for those who have been wounded, and safety for all those who feel afraid. May the world not turn it's back upon the people of Sudan, but work co-operatively and collaboratively to bring an end to violence, death, destruction and misery. In the name of Jesus we pray.  Amen. 

The prayer is from Open Doors amended. 

Analyses published today finds that the decline in gas-fired power generation caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade was absorbed by record levels of solar and wind capacity rather than coal. According to an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, outside China, coal-fired power generation fell 3.5 per cent and gas-fired by 4 per cent, while solar rose 15 per cent and wind 7.6 per cent. No coal units were returned to service or delayed from retirement in any country during the month. Separate research by energy consultancy Bombay Strategy found global coal imports in March recorded their lowest level in five years.  Lauri Myllyvirta, lead analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, said: ”The UK, India, South Africa, Germany, the Netherlands and Türkiye more than covered their power demand growth from clean energy while reducing both coal and gas-fired power generation”.  

Eternal, almighty and merciful God,

you are the giver of life,

and the source of light and love.

You called the universe into being

and we are awe-struck

at its grandeur and magnificence.

We praise and glorify you

for the miracle of incarnation

and that you choose, in Jesus Christ.

to be born as one of us,

and to live among us.

Yet, though we excluded you

and strung you on a cross 

you did not abandon us

but continued to love

and show us your grace and mercy.

We glorify Christ's resurrection

and that he has opened for us the gates of heaven.

God of endless goodness,

we praise you.

we adore you,

we honour your Holy name.

Amen