By William Madouk
Senior catholic clerics of South Sudan have appealed to the international community to pressurize the Sudanese warring leaders to immediately cease hostilities.
Speaking after a three-day ecclesiastical meeting; Archbishop of Juba, Stephen Ameyu Martin, sounded the alarm over a continued human rights violation in Sudan and the worrying humanitarian crisis.
“We bishops are deeply concerned about the situation in Sudan; human rights abuse is on a daily basis, killing, looting and raping, he said.
“Hospitals are being destroyed; essential services such as access to food, water and electricity are being denied to the civil population,” he stated.
The bishop said that in many Sudanese cities, heavy weapons are being used indiscriminately, killing civilians.
“These are unacceptable, and we condemn the acts in the strongest possible terms,” he added.
The catholic bishops then appealed to the international community, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, and the African Union to mount pressure on Sudanese warring leaders to bring peace.
“The conflict destabilizing for the whole region, already fragile and weakened by internal conflict,” bishop Mula noted.
“We call upon the international community to prevail over Sudan’s warring parties and choose dialogue as a means to solve their differences.” he appealed.
Conflict that broke out in Sudan on April 15, has caused great loss of lives, destruction of properties, and displacement of people.
South Sudanese returnees, Sudanese refugees and third-country nationals have fled the country causing an international humanitarian crisis in the region.
Senior clerics cited that the Sudanese have made their wishes known through nonviolent protest that led to overthrowing of ex-president Omer Al Bashir, and the warring parties must respect it.
The church leaders also said they would continue to give moral support and stand in solidarity with war victims by providing aid assistance.
“We shall continue to play with our main role which is humanitarian, through our Caritas South Sudan, church and other international organizations,” Mula said.
The clerics further lauded the South Sudanese government for welcoming refugees fleeing the Sudan crisis and urge them to continue to let the doors open for those fleeing the war.
“We call on the international community to provide needed humanitarian aid both within Sudan, South Sudan and other neighboring countries hosting refugees,” he stressed.