ETHIOPIAN: Prelate Applauds Collaborative Effort for the Success of Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
HE Berhaneyesus Cardinal Souraphiel
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
A Catholic Prelate has appreciated the collaborative effort of the people of the Horn of Africa nation and all friends for the completion of the third stage of filling of the reservoir of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and launching the second part of the Power Turbine.
In a message share with AMECEA Online Monday, August 15, when the Church celebrates the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Berhaneyesus Cardinal Demerew Souraphiel of the Archdiocese of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia said, “I would like to congratulate All Ethiopians and all the people of good will for the success of the Third-Round filling of the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and the inauguration of the second part of the Power Turbine.”
The successful accomplishment of the third stage of filling the reservoir of flagship project GERD, was announced after the dam’s second turbine began producing power.
In his Monday message, Cardinal Souraphiel the former Chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) underscored that the success of GERD is a sign of solace to the poor and marginalized who have not been having access to light because of their life situation.
“The successful completion of the Dam is above all a relief to the poor who are left out to live in darkness while they have full rights to benefit from their own river,” reads part of the statement from the member of the Congregation of the Mission (CM), Cardinal Souraphiel.
He stressed that since light is a gift to all, “The poor should not be left out to live in darkness just because of their poverty. But we have to remember that “Our Creator Himself will not approve and tolerate such discriminatory treatment against the poor.”
According to the Ethiopian Prelate, “It is important to share the natural resources that God has given us in a way that everyone benefits from them equally; particularly, it is everyone’s responsibility to support the poor and marginalized people to set them free from the burden of life caused by the poverty.”
Additionally the Cardinal explained, the “Nile River has been passing at the doors of our poor Ethiopian mothers for years and years, yet they are far from benefiting from it. Moreover, their children miss education, and mothers are losing their precious lives due to lack of simple treatment.”
He wishes and prays that the Renaissance Dam be successfully completed and that Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, bring lasting peace to the country of Ethiopia.
Previously, there has been concerns over the GERD project which even Pope Francis had called call on the leadership of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to negotiate about the dam project and keep off from politics that intensifies conflict.
On the same note, in the year 2020, Cardinal Souraphiel has appealed to Ethiopia, Sudan, and Egypt “not to let the dispute over the dam lead to conflict but to understanding and collaboration for the common good of all concerned.”
