Bishop calls for urgent action in Sudan

A bishop from Sudan has appealed for emergency action for the people affected by the war in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains.

Bishop of the Diocese of Kadugli, the Rt. Rev. Andudu Adam Elnail,said people, especially those from the villages of Kao Nyaro and Warne,are facing starvation and death due to the humanitarian crises in theSouth Kordofan State of Sudan.

“Those who have managed to escape are now living under trees andgetting soaked by the rains. They have no tents, no food, no safedrinking water, and no medicine,” he said. “Some organizations in thearea have given them a little sorghum, which was not enough for all thepeople and some have already died.”

Recently, the governor of Sudan’s South Kordofan state, Adam Al-Faki,described the ongoing war in his state as “intricate” because “itinvolves family members on both sides” and acknowledged that it wouldnot stop without the spread of education.

It is estimated that about 50,000 have been displaced since the warbroke out in April this year and are in need of food assistance. Thelatest reports reaching the bishop from Malakal, an area bordering NubaMountains and South Sudan, suggest that the humanitarian situation isreaching “catastrophic levels.”

“People are still on the way walking from the Nuba Mountains to crossthe boarder of South Sudan, which is a long distance with no food,causing the deaths of 20-25 people every day,” he said.

“We are calling for support so that we can meet these people. We sent $17,000 three weeks ago, but it is not enough.”

The bishop has since appealed to Christians all over the world topray for the people of Nuba Mountains so that peace can prevail betweenthe people and the government. He also called for prayer for himself andhis term as they travel around their diocese.

Fighting in the region continues, with the Sudanese Armed Forces andrebels making contradictory claims over who is winning the battles. Butwhether one end is winning or losing, it’s the people on the ground,especially women and children who continue to bear the brunt of the war.