#prayeralert: Malta Boat Sinks Leaving 500 DeadLaura Gish - 23 Sep 2014

Two thousand five hundred. That’s how many people are believed to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year alone — 500 of those were lost last week when their boat was rammed by another boat near Malta.  

The boat had left Egypt in early September, carrying about 500 migrants. Two Palestinian survivors reported to authorities that the boat was intentionally sunk by traffickers. On board were Syrians, Palestinians, Egyptians, and Sudanese. The traffickers told the women and children to get on a much smaller, less safe boat. They refused. The traffickers proceeded to sink the boat, including the women and children. So far there are only 9 survivors, all found 300 miles off the Malta coast.  

Each year migrants from North Africa and the Middle East seeking safety and a better life attempt to cross to European countries by sea. The UN reports that last year there were 80,000 migrants. This year, more than 130,000. The vessels they travel in are usually overcrowded and unsafe. 

Let’s pray for those who have lost loved ones and that many find refuge in the comfort of the living God. 

• Pray for the families that are grieving the loss of their loved ones. Pray that they would begin to search for Jesus Christ. Pray for believers to enter into their lives and circles of influence.
• Pray for Maltese officials. Ask God to guide them in their search for a solution to all the violence. May other neighboring countries seek to stop the violence as well. 
• Pray that the survivors would also be brought closer to the Savior during this time. Ask God to reveal Himself to them in a mighty way. 

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'USS Vella Gulf is underway' by Official U.S. Navy Page