Australia (MNN) — Cyclone Yasi slammed into the
flood-ravaged northern state of Queensland as a category 5 storm. It is one more serious complication in the flood
recovery efforts estimated to cost at least A$5 billion.
Australia's government is calling the scale of flooding in
Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) the greatest natural disaster to
ever occur in that nation.
Cleanup has begun, but 75% of Queensland and parts of
Northern NSW have been declared a disaster zone, covering a land mass larger
than Germany and France combined.
There are other concerns about how the flooding will drive
up inflation as well as other prices on exports that have been directly
affected by the flooding, like coal. Food prices are also skyrocketing because the high waters damaged or
destroyed some of the most agricultural areas. As a result, the flooding disaster and the
storm mean the Australian economy will suffer slower growth this fiscal year.
Operation Mobilization reports that their team
members survived the earlier flooding safely, but this latest disaster could be a drain on morale. Please pray that hearts would find comfort in God
through this time. Pray also for wisdom and anointing for pastors and Christian counselors
as they seek to bring comfort to those who have lost family members, homes,
properties and livelihoods. And then pray for God's light to shine in this time of
tragedy.
OM has established the Queensland Fund Appeal, Fund Number
75 through which they will funnel donations to partner churches to disburse to those
most in need.
