‘Immediate media attention needed’

Religious working in South Sudan, in a network called “Solidarity with South Sudan” say the country needs “immediate” media attention and international action, writes Ellen Teague.

Sr Yudith Pereira Rico, associate executive director of the network, has announced the creation of #SouthSudanWeCare on social media. “The people there feel they are forgotten,” she says. “There is no media attention and they always tell us, ‘Please, don’t forget to speak about us.’”

Nearly 30 nuns, priests and brothers from 20 different congregations and 20 nations working across South Sudan are training teachers, health care workers, pastoral agents and sustainable farmers from all ethnic groups, and promoting tolerance and reconciliation along the way.

The postponement of an October visit by Pope Francis and the Archbishop of Canterbury to draw attention to the disastrous effects of the civil war that erupted in December 2013, and to nudge conflicting parties towards peace, has been a setback for the country.

Patrick Nicholson, director of communications at Caritas Internationalis, said that despite the immensity of the tragedy, “it’s really off the radar in terms of the world caring”, which is why “the Pope raising awareness is absolutely crucial”. Caritas created a website southsudan.caritas.org to illustrate local human stories.