Church leaders in South Sudan are appealing to the international community for immediate and large-scale humanitarian assistance after parts of the country were officially declared to be in famine last month.
In a statement, the South Sudan Council of Churches also called on parties to the conflict in the war-torn country to cease fighting. “Millions of people have been affected, with large numbers displaced from their homes and many fleeing to neighbouring countries where they are facing terrible hardships in refugee camps” the SSCC said.
In the statement, which was signed by Rev Peter Gai Lual Marrow, chairman of the council and moderator of the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, and Roman Catholic Fr James Oyet Latansio, general secretary of the council, the SSCC appealed to the “international community and friends of the people of South Sudan to provide immediate and large-scale assistance”.
“But we also appeal to the warring parties to stop the war, to stop harassing our people, to stop the looting of food, and to open credible humanitarian corridors to allow both people and relief commodities to the most needy areas…Our people are struggling simply to survive.”
Fr Latansio told the World Council of Churches that the statement was “an appeal for prayers, support, strong and responsible leadership and effective humanitarian assistance”. The elements that gave us nationhood are needed to save the nation at this time,” he said.
Some 100,000 people are facing starvation in northern South Sudan and a further million people are on the brink of doing so. Aid agencies say the situation is “man-made” with ongoing conflict in the nation hampering aid efforts. Tens of thousands have died and more than million fled the country since violence broke out in late 2013, only two years after the nation achieved independence.
