Audience 30-12-2015 / 6

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Decrying Tragedy in South Sudan, Pope Appeals: 'Provide Food to Those Suffering Starvation'

During General Audience, Appeals for Concrete Aid to Reach Nation Struck by ‘Fratricidal Conflict’ in Which Millions, Including Children, ‘Are Condemned to Death’ by Starvation

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To those on the verge of dying from starvation in South Sudan, it is imperative that concrete food aid reaches them right away.
Pope Francis made this appeal toward the end of his weekly General Audience this morning, the first in St. Peter’s Square in 2017.
“Of particular concern,” the Pope lamented, “is the painful news coming from the battered southern Sudan, where a fratricidal conflict is compounded by a severe food crisis, which, through starvation, condemns to death millions of people, including many children.”
On Monday, Feb. 20, South Sudan’s government officially declared a famine in different parts of the country. According to the United Nations, the African nation’s areas hardest hit by war and the collapsing economy have left about 100,000 people facing starvation. A million others are at risk of famine.
“At this time,” Pope Francis appealed, “it is more necessary than ever, that everyone commits not just to making statements, but to providing concrete food aid and allowing that it can reach suffering populations.”
“May the Lord sustain these brothers and those working to help them.”

 

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Deborah Castellano Lubov

Deborah Castellano Lubov is Senior Vatican & Rome Correspondent for ZENIT; author of 'The Other Francis' ('L'Altro Francesco') featuring interviews with those closest to the Pope and preface by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin (currently published in 5 languages); Deborah is also NBC & MSNBC Vatican Analyst. She often covers the Pope's travels abroad, often from the Papal Flight (including for historic trips such as to Abu Dhabi and Japan & Thailand), and has also asked him questions on the return-flight press conference on behalf of the English-speaking press present. Lubov has done much TV & radio commentary, including for NBC, Sky, EWTN, BBC, Vatican Radio, AP, Reuters and more. She also has contributed to various books on the Pope and has written for various Catholic publications. For 'The Other Francis': http://www.gracewing.co.uk/page219.html or https://www.amazon.com/Other-Francis-Everything-They-about/dp/0852449348/

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