CCA expresses condolences to the families of Asian migrants died in the devastating fire in the Mangaf area in Kuwait

Programme Review and Programme Direction

Two key deliberative sessions during the 15th CCA General Assembly are the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions.

The Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions will both be conducted in three groups relating to the CCA’s programme areas, namely, (i) General Secretariat (GS), (ii) Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF); and (iii) Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia (PD).

Assembly participants will have the option to join one of three groups for both the Programme Review and Programme Direction sessions. For the sake of coherence, the assigned group will remain the same for both sessions.

General Secretariat

The General Secretariat oversees the coordination of programmatic, administrative, and financial activities of the organization. The GS comprises various departments such as church and ecumenical relations, relations with ecumenical partners, finance, administration, and communications, which provide crucial support and services for the implementation of programs and contribute to the overall functioning of the CCA.

Programmes: Relations with member churches and councils, ecumenical partners; advocacy at the United Nations; ecumenical responses to emerging issues in solidarity; income development and finance; and communications.

Mission in Unity and Contextual Theology (MU) and Ecumenical Leadership Formation and Spirituality (EF)

Under the MU programme area, the CCA accompanies Asian churches to strengthen their mission and witness in multi-religious contexts, revitalise and nurture church unity and the Asian ecumenical movement, and develop contextual theological foundations.

Programmes: Asian Movement for Christian Unity (AMCU); Congress of Asian Theologians (CATS); Asian women doing theology in the context of wider ecumenism; contextualisation of theology in Asia and ecumenical theological education.

The EF programme area focuses on nurturing and developing ecumenical leaders in Asia. The programme aims to enhance spiritual formation and theological understanding, enabling people to actively engage in ecumenical dialogue and collaboration.

Programmes: Ecumenical Enablers’ Training in Asia (EETA); Asian Ecumenical Institute (AEI); Youth and Women Leadership Development; Ecumenical Spirituality and Nurturing of Contextual Liturgical Traditions; Asia Sunday

Building Peace and Moving Beyond Conflicts (BP) and Prophetic Diakonia and Advocacy (PD)

The BP programme area is dedicated to promoting peace, justice, and reconciliation in Asia’s diverse contexts. Through training, advocacy, and dialogue, the programme addresses the root causes of conflicts, empowers communities, and fosters sustainable peacebuilding initiatives.

Programmes: Pastoral Solidarity Visits; Churches in Action for Moving Beyond Conflict and Resolution; Young Ambassadors of Peace in Asia (YAPA); Ecumenical Women’s Action Against Violence (EWAAV); Eco-Justice for Sustainable Peace in the Oikos.

The PD programme area focuses on promoting justice, human rights, and social transformation in Asia. Through advocacy, capacity-building, and raising awareness, the programme addresses systemic injustice, empowers marginalised communities, and advocates for prophetic actions and meaningful change.

Programmes: Human Rights advocacy; Migration, Statelessness, and Trafficking in Persons; Asian Ecumenical Disability Advocacy Network; Asian Advocacy Network on the Dignity and Rights of Children (AANDRoC); Ecumenical Solidarity Accompaniment and Diakonia in Asia (ESADA); Health and Healing; Good Governance; Action Together to Combat HIV and AIDS in Asia (ATCHAA).

No preference updated.

17 June 2024

The Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) expressed deep sorrow at the loss of lives of 49 Asian diaspora members in the devastating fire in a migrant workers’ accommodation building in the Mangaf area in southern Kuwait that resulted in the death of at least 49 migrants from India and the Philippines.  

In a condolence message issued by the CCA, General Secretary Dr Mathews George Chunakara stated that the CCA expresses its deepest condolences and sincere sympathies to the families of the deceased, praying for a speedy recovery of the injured.  

“The loss of the families of the victims of the Mangaf tragedy is heartbreaking and beyond words. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. We pray that the injured will recover at the earliest. May divine grace strengthen and console all family members, friends, and their coworkers in the destination country”, added Dr Mathews George Chunakara.

“We share the grief of the family members of the departed who are yet to reconcile the loss of their dear ones and of all those who are injured and struggling to recover from the physical and mental torment” stated the CCA General Secretary.

As of now, forty-two of the dead were reportedly Indians and three were from the Philippines; most of those who died were aged between 20 and 50.

Among the Indians, 24 were from the south Indian state of Kerala, seven from Tamil Nadu, two each from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, and one each from Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh, and they include engineers, accountants, supervisors, drivers, and other professionals. Filipino and Nepali workers are also among the injured.

The CCA General Secretary added that “The Mangaf tragedy in Kuwait is not an isolated event. These kinds of tragic incidents are result of a protracted apathy towards protecting the rights of migrant workers, their safety, security and working conditions in destination countries.

Although it is reported as an accidental blaze, and the investigation into its causes and details is underway, the Mangaf incident has once again proved the need for ensuring safe working and living conditions for migrant workers in destination countries.

The international consultation organised by the CCA and held in Dubai, UAE from 31 May to 3 June 2024) on ‘Asian Diaspora in Transition: Migration and Human Trafficking to West Asia (Arabian Gulf)’ discussed the deplorable living and working conditions of the migrant workers in destination countries in West Asia, including Kuwait.

Two-thirds of the Kuwaiti population is made up of foreign workers and the country is highly dependent on migrant labour, like several other Arabian Gulf countries. CCA has expressed concerns over the living and working conditions of migrant workers on several occasions. 

The Asian Ecumenical Migrant Network has been initiated by the CCA as part of its ongoing programme for advocacy on the rights and dignity of Asian migrants in destination countries within and beyond Asia.

The full text of the CCA’s General Secretary’s Message to the families of fire victims in Kuwait down below: click here