The situation in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine, as we all are aware, is of global concern. The conflict in Syria appears on the surface to be a battle between those loyal to President Bashar Al-Assadand those who oppose him. The uprising against him began in March 2011 in Deraa, when several demonstrators were killed by security forces while protesting against the arrest of some teenagers who had painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. This spread to nationwide protests in May, demanding the President’s resignation.
The death toll in Syria’s three-year conflict has climbed past 160,000, as per the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a harrowing figure that reflects the relentless bloodletting in a civil war that appears no closer to being resolved. The crisis has also uprooted some 6.5 million people from their homes, forced 2.7 million to flee the country, laid waste to cities and towns alike, and unleashed sectarian hatreds that have rippled across the region. (cf. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/syria-death-toll/)
The ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have taken a tremendous toll on the people of those countries. As of April 2014, at the very least, 174,000 civilians have been determined to have died violent deaths because of the wars. The actual number of deaths, direct and indirect, as a result of the wars is many times higher than this figure.
The decade long war in Afghanistan has continued to take lives with each passing year. As of February 2014, at least 21,000 civilians are estimated to have died violent deaths due to the war. The total number of civilians killed in Pakistan may be as high as or higher than the toll in Afghanistan, with NGO estimates ranging widely between 20,000 and 50,000 recorded deaths. In Iraq, over 70 percent of those who died of direct war violence have been civilians. Iraq Body Count conservatively estimates that at least 1,33,000 civilians have been killed in direct violence due to war between the invasion and early May 2014. In addition to the direct consequences of violence represented by these numbers, thousands more Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis are falling victim to the dangers of a battered infrastructure and poor health conditions arising from wars. In the case of Iraq, excess deaths indirectly resulting from the war add several times the 1,33,000 civilians killed directly by violence.
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Ecumenical news
Kashmir Floods Situation Updates
/25 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsAPPEAL FOR PRAYER AND CHANNELIZING SUPPORT
Extracts from
Kashmir Floods Situation Updates
Up to 13 September 2014
By Arjimand Hussain, Rawalpora, Srinagar
Prepared with Additional Inputs and Edited by Mazher Hussain, COVA, Hyderabad
Most News Headlines on Kashmir floods continue to fall short of capturing the intensity of this calamity. I have put together some points which our friends in media and humanitarian agencies could use in their communications to capture the enormity of the crisis:
Critical Immediate Aid Requirements
– Critical aid requirements include: boats, drinking water, medicines, water purifying tablets, food, warm clothes, Beddings and Quilts (Razai), baby food, milk, liquid hand sanitisers, women’s hygiene kits, children’s hygiene kits.
The Disaster and Its Impact Read more
NEICC appeals all to Shun Violence and Maintain Peace in Assam-Nagaland Border
/25 Comments/in News from Constituent Members /by CommunicationsThe meeting held yesterday jointly appealed to all sections of both sides to shun violence, stop inhuman killings, and maintain peace, a statement from the NEICC said.
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NCCI – COCR Program Report: Communications for Peace and Harmony (Batala | Aug 25 – 29, 2014)
/25 Comments/in News from NCCI /by Communications“Communications for Peace and Harmony”
The Commission on Communications and Relations (COCR) of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) along with India Peace Centre (IPC), Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS), Amritsar Diocese of the Church of North India (CNI) and, Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (ISPCK) organized a Training Workshop on the theme“Communications for Peace and Harmony” from August 25 – 29, 2014 in Baring Union Christian College Association (BUCCA) in Batala, Punjab. The program was hosted by Christian Institute for Religious Studies (CIRS) which is a theological component unit of BUCCA.
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PC Jena: A Humble Ecumenical Leader with a passion for human rights
/25 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsRead more
Requesting all to observe August 16, 2014 as KANDHAMAL PRAYER DAY
/25 Comments/in News from Constituent Members /by CommunicationsDear friends,
Greetings from National Council of Churches in India.
The rest of the cases are pending before the sessions and magistrate’s courts.(source: ucanindia.in/news)
The Utkal Christian Council of the National Council of Churches in India, has proposed observing August 16, 2014 as prayer day related to the Kandhamal persecution of Christians. The Council has been closely accompanying the victims of Kandhamal in their struggle for justice. On August 16, 2014 the Utkal Christian Council is inviting all leaders of Churches and organizations to a mega prayer summit at Happy Valley Home, Badenaju, Gudayagiri – 762100 to be held from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM along with believers in the Kandhamal area.
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FAREWELL TO NCCI EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES – Rev. Asir Ebenezer, Rev. Dr. Solomon Rongpi and Dr. Hrangthan Chhungi
/25 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsThree of our Executive Secretaries have finished their term of office with the National Council of Churches in India. We are grateful to God for the fine leadership we have had in them. As our friends take their skills and wisdom to other ministries, we wish them God’s richest blessings for an increasingly fruitful ministry.
Joined NCCI June 1, 2004 and served till May 31, 2014 in various capacities: Executive Secretary for Urban-Rural Mission (URM) and later of the NCCI Commission on Policy and National Governance, Officiating General Secretary for a year (2010), and Finance Secretary. He has contributed to NCCI at many levels including programs, finance, communications, strategic planning process and policies. His work at NCCI has been so extensive that any attempts to define it would fall short of according sufficient acknowledgement. He has taken office with the Church of South India (CSI) Synod located in Chennai. Read more
NCCI – AZARIAH HOUSE DAMAGED! URGENT APPEAL FOR FUNDS
/26 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsDear friends,
On account of the stormy weather including incessant rains over the last week in Nagpur, some trees near Azariah House in the NCCI Campus have fallen causing extensive damage to the structure of Azariah House.(See pictures below)
As we may know that the house is named after the well-known Indian Church leader and ecumenist Bishop Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah (1874 – 1945), and has been used variously as conference hall, guest house, meeting place, etc.
We are celebrating the centenary of NCCI this year. In fact, the concluding celebration is planned to be held in Nagpur during November 6 – 10, 2014. The Azariah House facilities need to be in usable condition as early as possible.
We urgently appeal to you to grant financial support for repairing Azariah House and the compound wall which has collapsed in many places. The repair work is estimated at INR Ten Lakhs (Rs. 10,00,000/-) which is about USD 17000/-.
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NCCI letter to Minister of External Affairs, Government of India
/25 Comments/in General news /by CommunicationsTo
Smt. Sushma Swaraj
Cabinet Minister of External Affairs, Government of India
Dear Madam,
Greetings to you from the National Council of Churches in India!
The National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) is concerned about thepresent conflict between Israel and Palestine in West Asia. It has beenreported that around 184 Palestinians died and more than 1,330 peopleare wounded. The majority of the victims are Civilians, Children and Elderlypeople. The Hamas has also fired rockets inside Israel. The violence of bothsides is condemnable.
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Solidarity Letter to Japan
/25 Comments/in Other concerns /by CommunicationsTo,
National Council of Churches in Japan
Korean Christian Church in Japan
Nihon Krisuto Kyodan
Nippon Sei Ko Kai
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
On behalf of the National Council of Churches in India, I express our solidarity with you as you have experienced two natural calamities:
the Neoguri typhoon and the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan’s northern coast on Saturday, 11 July 2014, not far from the site of the 2011 Fukushima disaster, triggering a small tsunami.
Our hearts go out to those who have been hit by these disasters, suffering loss of their houses and property, and being forced to seek shelter and protection elsewhere. As you go through the heartache of all your losses, you also, we are sure, will be resilient to face the challenges and re- settling yourselves, hard and painful though the process may be. We pray that the comforting presence and spirit of God will give you strength and fortitude to overcome the recent setbacks.
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Agonize in prayer, Express solidarity, Campaign for justice
/24 Comments/in Other concerns /by CommunicationsThe situation in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, and Palestine, as we all are aware, is of global concern. The conflict in Syria appears on the surface to be a battle between those loyal to President Bashar Al-Assadand those who oppose him. The uprising against him began in March 2011 in Deraa, when several demonstrators were killed by security forces while protesting against the arrest of some teenagers who had painted revolutionary slogans on a school wall. This spread to nationwide protests in May, demanding the President’s resignation.
The death toll in Syria’s three-year conflict has climbed past 160,000, as per the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a harrowing figure that reflects the relentless bloodletting in a civil war that appears no closer to being resolved. The crisis has also uprooted some 6.5 million people from their homes, forced 2.7 million to flee the country, laid waste to cities and towns alike, and unleashed sectarian hatreds that have rippled across the region. (cf. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/syria-death-toll/)
The ongoing conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan have taken a tremendous toll on the people of those countries. As of April 2014, at the very least, 174,000 civilians have been determined to have died violent deaths because of the wars. The actual number of deaths, direct and indirect, as a result of the wars is many times higher than this figure.
The decade long war in Afghanistan has continued to take lives with each passing year. As of February 2014, at least 21,000 civilians are estimated to have died violent deaths due to the war. The total number of civilians killed in Pakistan may be as high as or higher than the toll in Afghanistan, with NGO estimates ranging widely between 20,000 and 50,000 recorded deaths. In Iraq, over 70 percent of those who died of direct war violence have been civilians. Iraq Body Count conservatively estimates that at least 1,33,000 civilians have been killed in direct violence due to war between the invasion and early May 2014. In addition to the direct consequences of violence represented by these numbers, thousands more Iraqis, Afghans and Pakistanis are falling victim to the dangers of a battered infrastructure and poor health conditions arising from wars. In the case of Iraq, excess deaths indirectly resulting from the war add several times the 1,33,000 civilians killed directly by violence.
Read more