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As the 2024 Summer Olympic Games take place, the people of the world are drawn to a spectacle of unity and peaceful competition. A reminder of our shared humanity. Yet against this backdrop regional conflicts continue without pause. While media focuses on the devastating situations in Gaza and Ukraine, it is crucial to remember the many other conflicts that often slip from the headlines but continue to inflict immeasurable human suffering.

In Sudan, an internal conflict causing a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions continues with 25 million Sudanese – half the country's population – in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. Yemen continues to teeter on the brink of economic collapse after nine years of conflict. Myanmar faces ongoing turmoil following a military coup. Niger grapples with the aftermath of political upheaval. Violence is escalating in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burkina Faso, Nigeria and South Sudan, while Haiti's deepening political crisis fuels increasing unrest.

These conflicts, among others, often rooted in complex economic, territorial, religious, or political factors, leave nations war-torn and facing decades of rebuilding.

Yet, as Christians, we are called to be peacemakers and to hope and pray for a better future. The Olympic Games, with their emphasis on fair play and international fellowship, offer a powerful symbol of what's possible when we set aside our differences. While we recognise this ideal often falls short in our broken world, we can still draw inspiration from it. The inclusion of a refugee team speaks volumes, giving displaced athletes a chance to compete and reminding us all of the human cost of conflict.

As we pray for peace in all corners of the globe, let us remember those suffering in conflicts both known and forgotten. In these challenging times, as a faith community, let us hold fast to the words of Jesus: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). May we be those peacemakers, in our communities and in our world.

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