Yarl's Wood removal centre of 'national concern'
The Prisons’ Watchdog says, ‘Conditions have deteriorated at Yarl's Wood, an immigration removal centre, to such an extent that it is a place of national concern. Yarl's Wood, in Bedfordshire, was failing vulnerable and pregnant women. It holds 350+ women waiting for their immigration status to be resolved. The report suggests that conditions have worsened since being inspected two years ago. More than half of the detainees said they felt unsafe. Of the 99 pregnant women who were held there last year only nine were removed. Fifteen detainees had been held for between six months and a year. Four were detained for more than a year. The report called for a ‘strict time limit’ on how long anyone can be detained. Jerome Phelps, of Detention Action, said ‘It is time for the Government to step away from the routine detention of migrants, and instead to work with them to resolve their immigration cases in the community wherever possible.’
Northern Ireland: Action urged to end paramilitary assaults on children
Twelve children were shot by the paramilitary between 2009 and last year in Northern Ireland and the Human Rights Commission have called on the UK Government to take immediate action to stop violent attacks on children. As well as twelve youngsters being shot, twenty seven were assaulted, the organisation said in a report to an influential UN committee investigating children’s rights. The report asked the state party to address the issue of paramilitary-style attacks on children in Northern Ireland through measures relating to both transitional justice and child protection. Figures for the number of attacks may be under-reported since fear of paramilitary violence and self-reported experiences of attacks on children are much higher, the Commission said. It has contacted the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Research published late last year from Queen’s University Belfast said more than 500 children were shot or beaten by loyalist and republican paramilitaries over the past two decades.
Christian MP says, ‘I'm sticking with Burnham despite nominating front-runner Corbyn’
Christian Labour MP Dawn Butler told Premier Radio that she's standing by her decision to nominate leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn, despite backing rival Andy Burnham. The left-winger now has the support of more than half of those with a vote in the Labour leadership contest. ‘If Jeremy's got a momentum behind him that's a good thing for our party and it's a good thing for the debate, but I still think overall that Andy is the candidate that will unite the party and bring the party forward,’ said Dawn Butler. She said Corbyn's participation in the leadership race had engaged more young people in politics, and praised Corbyn for encouraging what critics argue is an idealistic agenda. ‘As a young person you're supposed to be uncompromising and you're supposed to want to see a different world and want to change the world, so it's great to see that,’ added Butler.
Russia: Wildfires rage across remote eastern Siberia
Russia's federal forestry agency said, ‘More than 5,000 Russian emergency workers are battling to put out wildfires raging across forests in Siberia. Over 1,250 square kilometres of woodland are ablaze in at least six eastern regions. Wildfires are a common occurrence in Russia each summer due to the burning of dry grass and can claim lives and damage property. Historically every year many die in southern Siberia as a results of wildfires while hundreds of others are left homeless. The current wildfires have not yet affected inhabited areas. See also World article, ‘USA: California blaze grows, prompting more evacuations’.
France: Urgent medical support needed in Calais
We've all seen the news of desperate migrants trying to cross the channel. But few people know about the conditions people are living in. This is a humanitarian crisis on our doorstep and western governments are turning their backs on it. I know because I’m a nurse in Calais, giving medical support to migrants who have fled their countries because of war and persecution and are now living in horrendous conditions. Whole families are crammed into small tents with poor access to food and water, leading to all sorts of terrible health problems. These include serious skin problems, gangrene, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea and scabies. Many have shattered bones after falling from trucks, have been slashed by razor wire climbing fences or have been beaten up. Some are extremely vulnerable, including children and pregnant women. With needs ever increasing, it is charities and not governments that are picking up the pieces, providing essential medical consultations and psychological support for the many migrants traumatised by their experiences.
Charity building homes for families of martyred Christians
After 21 Coptic Christians were brutally murdered by IS, Focus on the Family (a leading US charity) has stepped in with housing and care for their families. The 20 Egyptian Christians, along with their Ghanaian co-worker, were from a poor Egyptian village and working in Libya to support their families. Their beheading was videoed and posted on social media. Focus on the Family is helping the families of the martyrs both materially and spiritually. The martyrs literally had nothing, except the very thing they died for because they would not let it go — their faith in Christ. Their families echoed that faith. They did not curse IS. They did not ask for pity. They did not ask for supplies or money. Focus on the Family has built houses for the families which will meet all their basic needs. The houses are a physical demonstration of unity within the worldwide body of Christ.
Myanmar: Flooding fails to stop local Christians
Myanmar flooding has killed over 100 people in the last 14 days. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters left behind are trying to survive without access to food or clean water. People are crying out to their Buddhist and animist gods for help. One million people have been affected by Myanmar’s severe flooding that has never happened on this level before. Houses are underwater, landslides are destroying any remaining roads and people are staying in schools and monasteries. Six indigenous ministries assisted by Christian Aid Mission are responding – sending teams of church members to remote villages. They’re often the first ones to arrive with supplies; making a major difference with food, tarpaulins, clothing and sharing the Truth of the Gospel. Survivors want to know, ‘Why are you helping me? You’re in the same boat as me.’ It’s a powerful testimony, and many come to Christ as a result of it.
Australia: Christians call ‘time to defend the faith with flowers’
A private member’s bill to legalise same sex marriage is expected to be presented to Federal Parliament in the week beginning Monday 10 August. In response to this move Christian ministries and organisations are asking Christians across the nation to defend their faith and make a visible statement to Australia’s national leaders of their desire for the definition of marriage to remain as being between a man and a woman. Christians are asked to say ‘Thank you with Flowers’ to Australian PMs who are valiantly defending the existing Biblical Covenant of Marriage between a man and a woman. Flowers are used to express thanks for life from the heart and Christians are going to take steps to set in place a carpet of flowers at Parliament House, Canberra on 10 August as a united expression of prayer and thanks to our Prime Minister and those supporting traditional marriage in Parliament.
China: International concern as more lawyers detained
United Nations human rights experts, the European Union, UK, US and others have expressed concern regarding the detention of over 200 lawyers and activists in China since 10 July. (See Prayer-Alert 15July)
On 16 July, five UN independent experts called on the Chinese authorities to stop harassing and intimidating lawyers and their colleagues, stating that ‘Lawyers are essential to ensure the rule of law; they need to be protected not harassed’. The British Embassy in Beijing expressed deep concern about the detentions. The US strongly urged China to release all those who have recently been detained for seeking to protect the rights of Chinese citizens. Last week, the UK’s Law Society wrote to the Chinese Premier raising concerns about the situation. The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said the ‘wave of repression constitutes an undeniable setback in US-China relations’.
Canada: North Korea shows captive Canadian pastor ‘confessing’
Last month we reported on a Canadian Church having very little information about their founding pastor, Hyeon Soo Lim, detained in North Korea since early March. On 2 August North Korea released video footage of him confessing that he had committed crimes against the state. Dressed in a dark blue suit and tie Lim appeared to be reading from a script. ‘The worst crime I committed was to rashly defame and insult the highest dignity and the system of the republic.’ Last week he appeared before the media confessing to crimes aimed at overthrowing the state and was quoted saying he had travelled to North Korea in the guise of humanitarian work to gather information that he used outside the country to drive the regime to a collapse. Lim, a Canadian citizen, has over the years visited North Korea and established an orphanage and a nursing home.