Susan Ryan reports that Ivan DeKam, disaster consultant with Church World Service, is in Madagascar working with the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar. He will be assisting the church in making an assessment and articulating a response plan which can be turned into an international appeal. The local news reports say that 250,000 people have been affected. Homes and crops have been destroyed, as well as roads and bridges. All of this comes at a time when the country faces its worst political and economic crisis in 20 years of independence.
Fuel is in short supply, and there are very long lines at gas stations when gas is available.
The annual rate of inflation is currently 70 percent. The prices of bread and other food items have risen sharply recently. Please pray for the many Zimbabweans who are suffering, remembering especially the children who are being affected by all that is happening. Our prayer is that the people here will continue to respond to these problems with non-violence, with courage and fortitude. May those who follow Jesus Christ find that He is their source of strength in these difficult days.