Reluctant to take sides, Christians often find it difficult to know how to pray for areas affected by political upheaval. However, the most urgent need in these situations is usually for a quick and peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Unrest can lead to civil war, which in turn causes damage to the national infrastructure, disrupts education and healthcare services, and can severely reduce food production, leading to food shortages or even famine. In countries which have suffered from prolonged periods of civil war, there can be an entire generation of traumatised young people that is unable to read or write - severely hampering the nation’s future development.

Civil wars are also often used as excuses or cover for persecution of religious or racial groups. Even massacres and ethnic cleansing are not uncommon, such as those seen in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s.

As well as praying for the immediate needs, prayer is needed for the future stability and recovery of the countries affected. After the fighting stops, so does the interest of the world’s media, but sometimes the damage caused takes years or even decades to heal.