S SUDAN: Year of Faith, Core of Bishops Plenary Assembly
Republic of South Sudan: -Sudan and South Sudan’s Bishops
started their Plenary Assembly in Juba, on September 19. The Assembly lasts one
week and seeks to address three issues: the situation of the major seminary,
the setting up of a Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference (Sudan Catholic
Bishops’ Conference, SCBC) and projects to celebrate the Year of Faith.
started their Plenary Assembly in Juba, on September 19. The Assembly lasts one
week and seeks to address three issues: the situation of the major seminary,
the setting up of a Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference (Sudan Catholic
Bishops’ Conference, SCBC) and projects to celebrate the Year of Faith.
The Assembly kicked off with an opening mass conducted by
Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartoum and President of the SBC.
Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Archbishop of Khartoum and President of the SBC.
The Cardinal who arrived by plane in Juba from Khartoum, via
Nairobi, Kenya, said the year of faith is an opportunity to clarify issues that
are not well understood within the church.
Nairobi, Kenya, said the year of faith is an opportunity to clarify issues that
are not well understood within the church.
The assembly comes amid relocation of thousands of South
Sudanese, mostly Catholics, from Khartoum to the newly independent South, as a
result of being considered foreigners by Khartoum authorities.
Sudanese, mostly Catholics, from Khartoum to the newly independent South, as a
result of being considered foreigners by Khartoum authorities.
Meanwhile International agency Oxfam has called for new,
safe locations to be urgently identified for thousands of the refugees, to ease
the burden on the overcrowded camps in Maban.
safe locations to be urgently identified for thousands of the refugees, to ease
the burden on the overcrowded camps in Maban.
The head of Oxfam’s emergency response in Maban Pauline
Ballaman said new safe locations for Sudanese refugees are needed in South
Sudan as camps sheltering more than 100,000 people.
Ballaman said new safe locations for Sudanese refugees are needed in South
Sudan as camps sheltering more than 100,000 people.
He said the camps are needed to avoid ticking time bombs, on
the point of a major outbreak of disease.
Mr Ballaman called on the Government of South Sudan and the
international community to prioritize finding new sites outside of Maban.
the point of a major outbreak of disease.
Mr Ballaman called on the Government of South Sudan and the
international community to prioritize finding new sites outside of Maban.
He said sites close to the River Nile were proposed earlier
this year, but discussions have delayed.
this year, but discussions have delayed.
Mr Ballaman said the world needs to step up efforts to find
a peaceful solution to the conflict in Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan state.
a peaceful solution to the conflict in Blue Nile, and Southern Kordofan state.
He added that immediate injection of funds is needed to
prevent a major disaster in Maban.
prevent a major disaster in Maban.
At least 16 refugees have already died from an outbreak of
water-borne Hepatitis E in the past few weeks and aid workers fear this figure
could escalate in the coming months.
water-borne Hepatitis E in the past few weeks and aid workers fear this figure
could escalate in the coming months.
Source: CISA News
