SECAM: Bishops in Africa Express Solidarity with Morocco and Libya Amidst Earthquake, Flood Tragedies
By Henriette Anne, FSSA
Following the deadly earthquake in Morocco and devastating flooding in Libya, which has left thousands of people dead and has caused damages, the Bishops in Africa under the Continental Body of Symposium of Episcopal Conference and Madagascar (SECAM), have expressed their solidarity with the Bishops of CERNA (Regional Episcopal Conference of North Africa) and to the people of Morocco and Libya assuring them of their prayers at this difficult time.
“You are direct witnesses to these tragedies, and we realize how precious and comforting this proximity is for the populations devastated by the earthquake and floods. As for us, we would like to express our complete solidarity with you, while assuring you of our prayers at this difficult time”, SECAM members said in a statement shared with AMECEA Online Newspaper on Wednesday, September, 27th.
According to the reports from the New Humanitarian, nearly 3,000 people have been killed by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Morocco on 8 September and the official death toll in Libya has already passed 5,000.
They also condole with the families that have lost their loved ones in the tragedy saying, “We, as Bishops belonging to the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, would also like to express our sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, while expressing our compassion and our solidarity with them in this ordeal they are facing”.
In their statement signed by Cardinal Ambongo the president of SECAM and the Archbishop of Kinshasa, the prelates concluded with the prayer that “may the God of mercy welcome into his eternal home those who have lost their lives and grant comfort and consolation to the bereaved families.
