The World Evangelical Alliance has called on all its worldwide members to take part in a Global Day for Darfur on 17 September 2006, and to join a week of events that will go to towards creating awareness of the plight of those living in the devastated region.
Geoff Tunnicliffe, International Director of the WEA said, “We cannot save the 400,000 whom we have already lost, but we can prevent further loss of life for the millions living on the cusp of death, battling starvation and militia attacks.“The evangelical Christian community worldwide must show its compassion and demonstrate its faith by responding to this crisis.”
The WEA explain that since February 2003, over 400,000 men, women and children have been killed in Darfur through a government-sponsored genocide. An additional 3.5 million people have been left displaced and homeless, living in refugee camps in fear of further attacks by the government’s proxy Janjaweed militia.
Despite a peace deal already being signed and put in place by the government and the largest rebel faction, violence in the region has ensued, and deadlines set within the peace agreements have consistently been missed.
The Global Day for Darfur and the 8-15 September Week of Prayer and Action hopes to provide a chance for humanitarian and religious groups to raise awareness on the situation and support the people of Darfur.Tunnicliffe urged: “We hope all of our members will demonstrate their faith in Jesus Christ by participating throughout the week and on the Global Day for Darfur.
“Our faith and prayer can serve as an inspiration to those suffering in Darfur.”
The WEA report that millions of people worldwide are expected to hold services and vigils throughout the week, calling on world leaders to pass a United Nations Security Council resolution authorizing a peacekeeping force in the region.
The World Evangelical Alliance is made up of 127 national evangelical alliances located in 7 regions and 104 associate member organisations.
The vision of WEA is to extend the Kingdom of God by making disciples of all nations and by Christ-centred transformation within society. The WEA tells that it exists to foster Christian unity, to provide an identity, voice and platform for the 420 million evangelical Christians worldwide.
