Yarl's Wood removal centre of 'national concern'
13 Aug 2015
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.’
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 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'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
13 Aug 2015
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.
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
13 Aug 2015
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.
Hindu nationalists have converted 39 people from Dalit Christian families to Hinduism in a controversial ceremony aimed at making them eligible for a government benefits programme. ‘We are moving ahead with our initiative and more families from other religions will be reconverted to Hinduism soon. Many people want to come back to their original faith,’ said the District Chief. The Dalits, known as the ‘untouchables,’ make up India's lowest caste and are eligible for certain government benefits if they identify as Hindus. International Christian Concern (ICC) noted that Christians from low-caste backgrounds are soft targets for Hindu nationalists seeking to take advantage of the government benefits programme and lure people of other faiths into Hinduism. ICC said as many as 25 million poverty-stricken Dalits who have converted to Christianity are being forced to choose between their Christian faith and eligibility for benefits.