Disturbing reports continued to circulate this week of more attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army rebels based in the Dungu area of north-east Congo.
In the last month, more than 620 people have been killed and more than 160 children abducted, according to Human Rights Watch.
The rebels, who have terrorised hundreds of thousands of people in the region since 1986, when they began their war against the Ugandan government, have attacked several areas across the border in Southern Sudan since Christmas, as well as carrying out attacks in DRC.
Suspected LRA fighters murdered people sheltering in a Catholic church on Boxing Day and reportedly set another church on fire in Duru, north-east Congo on Saturday (18 Jan).
Meanwhile reports have been coming in from partners in the Episcopal Church of Sudan who have also experienced attacks. In echoes of the atrocities experienced in northern Uganda, the Bishop of Mundri told how two young men had had their hands and legs chopped off while alive, and reported the shooting of a baby on its mother's back.
People have been fleeing the affected areas into the town of Mundri, with many who have no relatives in the town sheltering in the cathedral compound.
Also trying to cope with an influx of displaced people is Levi Bona, projects coordinator for Ezo Diocese. As of Tuesday, he counted 9,412 people who had come to Ezo for safety - both Sudanese and refugees from across the border in Congo.
Bishop Wilson Kamani also reported attacks in Western Equatoria, including the murder of a local chief.
Please pray for all those seeking shelter and those trying to help them. Our friends at Salisbury Diocese, with their strong Sudan link are tracking the situation well on their website.
Also pray for a resolution to the drive by multinational armed forces to crush the LRA in the area - though the Catholic archbishop in northern Uganda has suggested more warfare will not resolve the conflict.
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