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  (Photo: Reuters/Paul Banks/UNMIS/Handout)
  Residents gather outside UNMIS sector headquarters in Kadugli town in June. As many as 40,000 people may have fled fighting in Sudan's Southern Kordofan state, the United Nations said, after nearly a week of clashes between northern forces and southern-aligned groups.

The General Secretary of the World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC), Setri Nyomi has welcomed news of progress in efforts to reduce violent confrontation between battling forces in Sudan.

Nyomi said in a statement released from the WCRC this week: “We are heartened by news of positive developments. It is urgent that terms for sustainable peace be found.”

News emerged earlier this week from the African Union (AU) that an agreement was being made to create a demilitarized zone between the conflicting north and south regions of Sudan.

Tensions have been increasing as the official date of the declaration of independence of Southern Sudan draws near on June 9. Over the past few weeks reports of civilian deaths and property destructions have been common. Especially in South Kordofan and the Blue Nile border states escalating clashes and violence has been reported.

In light of the recent news from the AU, Nyomi has encouraged WCRC’s member churches to pray for Sudan ahead of the key date. He said, “We call on all WCRC member churches and area councils to pray for the people of Sudan between Sunday July 3 and Sunday July 10.”

The WCRC is a body formed from a merger between the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and the Reformed Ecumenical Council (REC) in 2010.

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He added: “We ask especially that worship services on Sunday, July 3 and Sunday July 10 include times of prayer for a peaceful transition into nationhood for Southern Sudan and peace for all the people in both Southern Sudan and Northern Sudan.”

Nyomi also encouraged any leaders with influence in the region to do whatever it takes to help the peace process. In particular he asked for government officials to be contacted to “expose the forces of death and destruction and to support all efforts that bring life, peace and justice.”

The WCRC has 230 member churches representing 80 million Christians worldwide.