In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, UMN invites all people of prayer to set aside time daily to ask for God’s help in our work in Nepal. The time suggested for UMN staff is 3.00 pm. For our friends around the world, we ask that you join us either at the equivalent time in your country of 3 pm Nepal time, or whenever you are able. Many have found setting a daily alarm on their phone a useful reminder. 

Thank you for your fellowship in prayer.

• We continue to need your prayers as UMN continues to face almost constant change in these days. Pray especially for staff members who have lost (or about to end) their jobs in UMN due mostly to financial constraints linked with the world pandemic. This is stressful and even for those who remain there are many stresses in these days. Pray that steps being taken to offer staff support and care will be effective.
   
• In the next three weeks several staff in Thapathali will be taking on new responsibilities following layoffs and necessary re-adjustments. Bal Kumari becomes Programme Support Team Lead. Sagar Gaudel will take over as Peace & Protection Thematic Lead, Avinaya Shah will take over managing the Cross-Cutting unit, and Suresh Bhattarai starts as Risk Management Unit Lead.  Please pray for each of these and the new responsibilities they will be taking on.
   
• Due to the pandemic 62% of the Nepali workforce find themselves in the hardest hit economic sectors. They are likely to experience wage cuts, reduced hours and/or layoffs. That is 4.4 million people (three quarters of whom are women). Informal daily wage earners, especially rural people who have come to the cities and are without family support networks, are the most deeply affected.
   
• The pandemic continues to develop and spread its fear. Over 11,000 people are now infected and one notable impact is that the number of women delivering babies in hospitals and clinics has gone down by 40% compared to the pre-lockdown days. At least 39 women and 291 babies have died due to birth complications in the last 80 days of the lockdown. Please remember to pray for the families caught up in such sorrow and loss.
   
• As all kinds of fear and uncertainties increase please remember to pray for the daily work of our hospitals, that all staff will remember that they are there to serve, and that through this loving and professional service of our hospitals Christ will be seen.