#prayeralert: Fighting, HIV, 1.9 Million Displaced - Sudan needs your prayersLaura Gish - 24 Nov 2014

Nearly 2 million people have been displaced.

The recent outbreak of fighting in South Sudan has affected much of the nation. Individuals are being forced to relocate, medical centers are hindered, including centres that help South Sudanese men and women affected by HIV. Two centers in the capital were forced to close down. Almost 1,500 patients fled, their whereabouts unknown.

HIV is a stigma. Those who have contracted the virus are outcasts in society. Many live in denial of the disease and those who have it are highly discriminated against. One woman said, “Many people fear to come close because they fear they will contract HIV.” Community leaders will force a woman who has HIV to leave her home; yet, if the man has HIV, she must stay there to take care of him. Discrimination is also carried out through civil service. Many people with HIV have been laid off. 

Care is hard to come by with the shortage of medicine and humanitarian aid. Transportation alone is a factor. The cost for a patient just to get to a clinic prevents many from receiving treatment. Those who are receiving treatment are deemed “lucky.” However, the clinics often run out of medicine before treatment is completed.     

There is much need for change. Please pray!

• Pray that the funds to clinics and humanitarian organisations would be in abundance. Pray that clinics would be able to reach out to areas where affected patients live and are not able to travel. 
• Pray that the stigma associated with HIV would be fought against and that education about the disease would be available.
• Pray for those who are working in this nation to minister and provide care for Sudanese nationals. Pray that believers would be bold in sharing the Word of God with others. 
• Ask God to raise up mighty believers in every camp, medical center, and community. May His light be released throughout this nation. 

All images are used by permission in accordance with commons copyright license terms: Feature image is a derivative of the images 'Sudan: Settlement Points' by SEDACMaps  and 'Darfurians refugees in Eastern Chad' by European Commission DG ECHO