VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI is assuring his spiritual closeness to some 2 million people victimized by severe flooding in northern Nigeria.
The Pope mentioned the «grave humanitarian crisis» today at the end of the general audience, during which he made an English-language appeal for the victims.
A combination of unusually heavy rains and issues with dams has turned the region into muddy, dirty lakes, and as the Holy Father noted, «some 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes.»
The United Nations noted that it is the worst time for floods to affect the already impoverished nation, since it is right before harvest, making it too late to re-plant, and destroying the crops entirely.
«To all those affected,» the Pontiff said, «I express my spiritual closeness and I assure them of my prayers.»
