Hundreds of thousands of Nepali migrants working in Gulf States must be allowed to return home after the earthquake devastated their nation, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said on Tuesday. ITUC has written to the Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates governments, asking them to suspend a sponsorship system which prevents the free movement of workers. (The system is criticised by human rights groups who compare it to modern day slavery) The United Nations estimates up to 8 million people have been affected by the quake. Hundreds of thousands of Nepali migrants are desperate for news of their loved ones, and want to return to Nepal and do what they can to meet their family’s needs, or in many cases bury their loved ones. They are helpless because they must honour a two or three year contract not to leave the country, not even being given compassionate leave at this time.

NGO’s with centres in Nepal are mobilising hundreds of staff and resources to assist communities with temporary shelter and aid. Among the many Church groups is ‘Himalayan Region Vineyard Churches’. The following is from a recent facebook entry, ‘Each time there is an aftershock the crows go crazy, the dogs howl, and people call out to each other. We still have not heard from five remote villages where there are Vineyard churches and developing communities. Their houses are made of stone without mortar. A concern is the monsoon season which has just started. Bad timing. Heavy seasonal rains will complicate relief efforts. Landslides will become a concern when the ground becomes saturated. Kathmandu Vineyard has stocked up on food and supplies for the Mobile Bible School. We’ve been using these resources to feed the church people and neighbours who have taken refuge in our courtyard away from the brick walls. It is beautiful the way people are coming together and encouraging each other.

In February we reported Myanmar declaring a state of emergency due to fighting between the army and militia forces fighting for ethnic minorities (many of them Christian). This week Myanmar’s government and representatives from 16 armed groups reached a draft ceasefire agreement. Rebel leaders must give the green light before proceeding and the Kokang have not yet signed on. Myanmar President Thein Sein is satisfied with the deal. However Khon Ja Labang, a Catholic leader and a former member of the Kachin Peace Network currently involved in peace-building in conflict zones, noted that in spite of the Government’s statements it is ‘hard to believe’ their sincerity because the agreement does not include every group and fighting continues in some parts of the country. If it is respected, the deal could put a stop to decades of ethnic violence.

A missionary pilot in Colombia needs prayer. From jail, missionary Russell Stendal sent this message to Voice of the Martyrs Canada: ‘Somebody set a trap for me, and we walked into it. There was a secret order out for my arrest’. He states in the video message: ‘They’re accusing me of rebellion, for the missionary trips and the visits I made into rebel-held territory distributing Bibles and radios.’ Is Russ Stendal, the famed missionary to FARC terrorists in South America, actually El Gringo, a terrorist leader seeking the overthrow of Colombia’s government? That question is before a three-judge panel, based on allegations from Carlos Manuel Silva, chief sectional prosecutor for the Colombian department of Cundinamarca, which includes the capital Bogota. If a terrorism trial does occur, Christian leaders believe it has potential to harm missionary outreach across the nation, still suffering from decades of violent conflict and narco-terrorism. Evangelicals are growing by 6% per year, three times higher than the population growth rate.

Over recent months there has been a mushrooming national campaign of workers seeking a $15-an-hour minimum wage. The most recent demonstration was in Atlanta. With fists pumping in the air, some 500 low-wage workers from across the South filled the sanctuary of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church with a resounding chant to open a one-day mobilizing conference. ‘I believe that we will win’ was the defining slogan as fast food, Walmart, home health care, child care, college adjuncts, retail and auto parts workers gathered from as far away as Missouri and Texas, Virginia and North Carolina to build for the April 15 ‘Fight for $15’ day of action. Many participants wore the brightly coloured T-shirts of their area’s campaign to win economic justice and a liveable wage. The achievements of this young movement so far have raised the minimum wage in Seattle and Los Angeles, and wrestled decisions from Walmart and others to raise starting pay by a dollar an hour. See also: http://april15.org/

The first 24-7 Prayer Asia Gathering was held in Hong Kong between February 12th and 14th. It was a key moment for the Asia 24-7 network. For five years many have been steadily sowing into relationships across the continent and this gathering was both a culmination and a new beginning. Eighty people gathered from Japan, India, Singapore, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, and Australia. The theme of the gathering was ‘to gather with God and with one another.’ Gathering with family and close friends around holidays and special occasions is important to Asian peoples and this kingdom gathering was no exception. For many this was the first time they’d met in person after hearing of one another and interacting on the 24-7 Prayer Asia Network Facebook page. A good degree of personal sacrifice was required of those who made the trek to Hong Kong. They were all rewarded with the delight of being together and encouraging each other.

Yemen is the Arab world's poorest country. Life for Christians in Yemen is very hard. All Christians there are from a Muslim background and it is forbidden for Muslims to convert to Christianity. Yemen's constitution provides for religious freedom but it's a farce. Christians are routinely harassed and face daily persecution.  It is impossible for any Christian in Yemen to own a Bible. This latest crisis involving Saudi Arabia and Iran will make it worse for Yemeni Christians caught between the ideologies of Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia, (supported by ten countries). Neither allow the free expression of Christian faith. The Saudis have started bombing Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen. The tension between the two countries has been in the making for years. The leading Sunni power, and the leading Shia power are facing each other for influence in the Middle East and now that proxy fight is playing out in the desert sands of Yemen.

Every year, thousands of Cambodian migrants cross the border with Thailand searching for employment and better living conditions. They enter the country without documents after paying unscrupulous traffickers who profit on trafficking with promises of a job. The lack of documents and permits makes them vulnerable and easy victims of forced labour; as happened to more than 300 fishermen who were rescued in Indonesia after being locked in cages or hidden in the forests of the islet of Benjina. They were reduced to slavery, subjected to harassment and abuse and forced to work for Thai-flagged vessels. The Jakarta government discovered the migrant workers following a year-long investigation conducted by Associated Press reporters. The investigation revealed 1,000+ fishermen from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia trapped on the island at different times, a true international hub of forced labour and of modern slavery linked to the fisheries sector. In February the Catholic Church dedicated a day of prayer to the issue of human trafficking and modern forms of slavery.

Last month you were asked to pray for teams of intercessors to be prepared spiritually as they plan to pray at satanic strongholds from Saturday, 11 April to Monday 13 April. The organiser has asked us to continue to pray about this as there is some fear due to tensions in the country and ‘people should not go unless they are spiritually prepared.,  We are asked to please pray for God to show each group from each area exactly what He wants them to do. Usually when prayer is planned at a stronghold, a team is sent ahead to prepare the place, not to do spiritual warfare, but just to pray for the team that will come and for God to clear the way for them. That isn´t possible this time. Please pray here for wisdom, clear guidance from the Lord and for spiritual protection.