South Sudan: Missionary Sister dies four days after being shot

Sister Veronica Rackova

Sister Veronica Rackova, a Slovak member of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Spirit , who was shot and seriously wounded in South Sudan, has died. Sr Veronica was allegedly shot by the Sudan People Liberation Army soldiers on Monday 16 May.

Sister Veronica died on 20 May at the Nairobi Hospital in Kenya, where she had been flown on Monday morning for specialised emergency treatment.

Around midnight on the day of the attack, Sr Veronica received an emergency call from a woman who had complications giving birth, which could not be dealt with at the health center that the sisters run, St Bakhita's Medical Centre in Yei. She used St Bakhita's ambulance to drive the woman to Harvester's Health Centre, a more specialized facility for women and children. The shooting occurred as she was driving home afterwards. She suffered multiple serious injuries.

Sister Veronica was 58 years old. She previously worked in Ghana, before coming to South Sudan where she worked for six years.

Her Requiem Mass will be held on 26 May. Three suspected SPLA Soldiers have been arrested and are being held by the police as investigations continue.

The Secretary General of the Diocese of Yei, Fr.Emmanuel Sebit, believes that the death of the religious is due to "a tragic accident that has shocked the whole nation." Fr Emmanuel said the unfortunate incident happened on the eve of anniversary celebrations to mark 30 years of the formation of Sudan People's Liberation Movement. Because of the celebrations, the army had been deployed in major towns for security reasons and they were mounting road blocks on major high ways.

Source: Fides