7th November 2026

On Thursday night violence in the Cantine-Aloya locality of Beni Territory in North Kivu, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), killed at least 30 civilians. Homes were burned and a health centre was destroyed, leaving several patients are reportedly among the dead. According to local sources, the perpetrators are understood to be members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) an armed group linked to Islamic State. People who had been in contact with Ebola patients fled an observation clinic, while response teams were forced to suspend operations in the area hampering work to track potential infections and contain the outbreak. Christian Kakule, medical director of the Kelekele Hospital Centre in Cantine said: “High-risk contacts and other individuals under monitoring have all fled. Our concern is that when probable cases end up out in the open like this, they can become a source of transmission and trigger an outbreak of the disease.”

God of love we come to you with our concerns for our neighbours in the DRC living in fear of death from armed militia and from Ebola.  We ask your protection for personnel in medical teams and all seeking to contain the Ebola outbreak. Bring peace to this troubled land. May warring factions on every side grasp the reality that death and destruction does not resolve differences, but only causes misery and harm. Guide the international community to work collaboratively to find a lasting peaceful way people can live together. In the DCR, may your Kingdom come and your will be done.  We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.

Syrian Border Guard Forces have seized 280kg of hashish and 28,000 Captagon pills (a highly addictive amphetamine-like substance)  after an armed clash with smugglers attempting to move the narcotics from Lebanon.  The smugglers fled towards Lebanon when Syrian security forces returned gunshot fire from the smugglers. Last week, customs officials at the Jisr Qamar border crossing with Lebanon thwarted an attempt to smuggle narcotics hidden inside a speaker. In early October, authorities seized more than half a million Captagon pills "coming from Lebanon" at the Jdeidet Yabous border crossing.

A prayer based on the Fourth Order for Holy Communion

from the United Reformed Church in England and Wales.

Almighty God, we give you thanks and praise,

for you are the source of all life and love.

You have so made us that we can know and love you,

trust and serve you.

We give you thanks that you loved the world so much

that you gave your only Son,

so that everyone who has faith in him

may not die

but have eternal life.

We thank you that Jesus was born among us

that he lived our common life on earth,

that he suffered and died for us,

that he rose again to new life

that he is always present through the Holy Spirit.

We thank you that we can live in the faith

that your Kingdom will come,

and that in life, in death, and beyond death

you are with us.

Therefore with all the company of heaven,

and with all your people,

we proclaim your greatness and sing your praise,

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest. 

Amen.