Pope Francis appealed for aid assistance to South Sudan where famine threatens the lives of millions of civilians due to the ongoing civil war.
On Monday, South Sudan government and UN agencies declared famine in parts of South Sudan, saying the catastrophic food shortages will continue to spread in the country, threatening millions of lives.
At the end of his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square on 22 February, the pope said that a solid commitment from the international community to help South Sudanese is crucial “now more than ever.”
He said the martyred South Sudan, a fratricidal conflict is compounded by a serious food crisis, which has struck the Horn of Africa and condemns millions of people to starve to death, among them many children.
Pope Francis urged governments and international organizations to “not stop at just making statements,” but take concrete steps so that necessary food aid can reach the suffering population in South Sudan.
“May the Lord sustain these, our brothers and sisters, and those who work to help them,” Pope Francis said.