KENYA: KCCB commends the contribution of seafarers

The Catholic Church recognizes and appreciates fundamental contribution to the international trade and the great humanitarian effort in rescue operations done by seafarers.

Allessandro BpSpeaking in Mombasa on 10th, July 2016, during the celebration to mark this year’s sea Sunday, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) – Commission for Refugees, Seafarers and Migrants Chairman Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro said, over 90% of the goods that sustain people’s daily lives come by sea and that, since time immemorial seafarers have fulfilled the obligation to rescue people in distress at sea under any condition.

“Medicine, food, fuel, cars, machinery, furniture, computers, raw materials; all reach our shores by ship.  We would like to appreciate the great humanitarian effort done by them without hesitation, and sometimes risking their own lives, to engage in many rescuing operations saving thousands of migrants’ lives,” he said.

Bishop Alessandro recalled so many men, women and even children, who while fleeing wars, conflicts, poverty, famine and so forth, have undertaken risky journey on small boats, and many a time find themselves in difficult situations to a point of drowning adding that, in such situations the seafarers are always there to rescue the migrants at sea, even when the number is big.

“We can imagine the journeys our brothers and sisters seafarers undertake on the oceans, they cover hundreds and thousands of kilometres, how much more peril do they present to them? This is act of mercy they exercise,” he said.

Rt. Rev. Alessandro conveyed his gratitude to all the chaplains and volunteers of the apostleship of the sea for their daily commitment in serving the people of the sea adding that, their presence in the
docks is a sign of the Church in their midst and shows the compassionate and merciful face of Christ.

By Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications ltd; KCCB