South Sudan: Without a ceasefire thousands could die

Bishop Eduardo Hiborru Kussala

Religious leaders in South Sudan warned that thousands of internal refugees could starve or fall dangerously ill unless a ceasefire stops heavy fighting in the country's Mundri region. Following a visit to the crisis-hit area, members of the Inter-Faith Council for Peace in Western Equatoria described how those who had fled the conflict were now living rough.

A statement by the council read: "As we speak people are already dying, and in particular children and elderly people. During the past two months more than 80,000 people had been forced to live in the bush and the jungle in the area. Children and women are those most affected. They will be exposed to a variety of epidemics and to starvation if they don't get help soon."

The council, which includes Bishop Eduardo Kussala of Tombura Yambio and Maaki Juma Daud head of the region's Muslim community, called for an immediate cessation to the gun battles so that displaced families could receive aid.

Father David Kulandai Samy of the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate, who has worked in the area since 2012, described the current crisis to Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. He said: "Our parish people who have moved into bushes are facing untold misery - particularly children suffer without food, water and medical assistance. Community people's standing crops have been destroyed and their assets were looted, including cattle."

Father Samy told ACN he was almost killed by the fighting: "With the grace of God we had a narrow escape from gunfire and we thank God for having survived till today".

According to the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate priest, the current conflict in the region began when nine members of the Dinka tribe were killed in September, reportedly by government soldiers.

Government troops also shot members of the Moru tribe and ethnic tensions triggered attacks on the Dinka by Moru warriors. As a result of the conflict numerous Catholic families had been forced to flee from their homes, taking refuge in Church buildings. But many of these families were further displaced by the fighting, fleeing into the bush. The fighting is connected to the civil war which has been raging in the country since December 2013.

Father Samy asked ACN's benefactors to pray for those caught up in the conflict. "We would return as soon as the situation gets back to normal and work towards rebuilding the scattered Catholic families and other tribal communities. We would request you to pray for us and our community people, who are undergoing incalculable misery and hardship."

ACN helped the Church in Sudan and South Sudan with almost one million euros (more than £700,000) last year.

In addition to its pastoral work, ACNalso provides emergency aid to assist the local Church in its work with refugees and others people affected by war.

Source: Aid to the Church in Need