Residents of Kadugli gathered outside UNMIS (United Nations Mission in Sudan) sector HQ after fleeing fighting in Kadugli town
(Photo: © Paul Banks/UNMIS)Prayers for Sudan needed more than ever with new bombing raid and a threat to MAF flights, say mission partners
In the tense situation between South Sudan, the world's youngest state, and Sudan, its northern neighbour, a new bombing raid was reported this week in Unity state.
Yida refugee camp in Unity state was bombed on Friday according to BBC reporter who was visiting there. Camp residents told the BBC's James Copnall that the plane was an Antonov, often used by the Sudanese government.
Sudan's government denied the accusation, while local official Miabek Lang told the BBC that at least 12 people had been killed and 20 wounded. The UN has now called for an investigation.
South Sudan is shown in blue. The other areas are within Sudan. South Kordofan is the largest pink area. The yellow shows Abyei.
(Map by Lokal_Profil on Wikipedia)
Many people had fled to Yida camp from South Kordofan, where fighting between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement – North (a former ally of the South in the civil war) has claimed hundreds of lives.
South Kordofan, known for the Nuba mountains, is in Sudan but on the border with South Sudan.
CMS Africa's Sudan correspondent reports, "It is estimated that at least 230,000 among the 1.2 million war-affected Nuba people are displaced without food. Only 140,000 of these have received any relief – and that was only a one-week ration from local stocks that are now exhausted."
CMS mission partner Ruth Radley, located far from the violence in South Sudan, wrote to supporters appealing for extra prayer following the report of the Yida bombing. She was writing some Advent devotions on the Prince of Peace when she heard the news.
"It’s hard to write about at the moment, knowing what is happening, and how the world so badly needs this Prince, but doesn’t recognise it."
The bombing came soon after President Al-Bashir of Sudan had said the north was ready for war if South Sudan kept up its "continued provocations", according to a Sudan Tribune report.
Nevertheless Ruth remains hopeful for the future of the country because of her deep admiration for the South Sudanese people. "The potential is great, there are many people with a deep love for the Lord, but we would still appreciate you standing with us. As you pray for this, please also thank him for the many amazing things which we see here."
In a separate development, new regulations in South Sudan are threatening Mission Aviation Fellowship flights into the country, reports CMS mission partner Trisha Wick.
" MAF Uganda have been told that on entering South Sudan they must go via Juba (the capital city) and then return there before exiting to return to Uganda," explains Trisha, who works with the Diocese of Maridi, developing discipleship training.
"This is a huge dog-leg having to go via Juba. The pilots are only allowed to fly a certain number of hours and this new regulation takes them beyond that. It means they would have to sleep overnight in South Sudan, and therefore this disrupts the flight programme not only for us, but also for elsewhere, as the days they don't fly to South Sudan, the planes go to Congo and other locations in Uganda.
"Also, routing via Juba will mean a huge increase in operating costs both for fuel, and the landing charges in Juba. This would be passed on to the passengers, meaning a huge rise in ticket prices.
"MAF are our lifeline – not only for travel, but for getting documents, parcels etc."
Please join Trisha and MAF in praying for change in this situation and all our partners in Sudan in praying for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Nuba mountains.