An urgent call for prayer and support for Christians in Bethlehem has come from charities which are warning that coronavirus lockdown could plunge the faithful into desperate poverty. The Palestinian Authority has declared a state of emergency and put Bethlehem in lockdown. All tourists are banned and the Church of the Nativity and other places of worship in Bethlehem remain closed. Tourism is Bethlehem’s main industry and is the lifeline of the city’s economy with around two million visitors last year, but now the streets are empty. Please pray for all the people of Bethlehem who have been indirectly affected, those losing their jobs, for the many families who, in an already difficult and precarious situation, are now facing even greater economic and social difficulties.