Khartoum:

Catholic Bishops in Sudan are urging the international communities to strengthen their efforts to end the ongoing violence in the region. The Bishops appealed to the United Nations (UN), the governments of the United States of America, the United Kingdom and Norway, also referred to as the Troika, and other members of the international community to go on with their respective efforts to end the ongoing violence.

The Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference (SCBC) members have issued a collective statement regarding the situation in the North African country, where a war broke out on April 15, 2023, between the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

SCBC members urge the UN, the Troika, and the International Community to "not sit back" and to continue their "responsibility of working towards addressing the crisis and providing the necessary support to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan" with the statement. They also call on the UN and Troika to continue providing necessary support to those affected by the violence.

Allegations of massive violations of human rights and war crimes have led to the unrest that started in Khartoum, the country's capital, and has now spread throughout the country. With nearly 7.1 million people displaced since the beginning of the conflict, Sudan is home to "the world's largest displacement crisis," according to a report released by the International Organization for Migration on December 20.

The report also stated that over 1.5 million people have fled to neighboring nations, which is an incredible number in a country suffering from economic collapse, food poverty, and conflict. Reportedly, more than 12,000 people have died in the nearly nine-month war.

In the statement, the Bishops’ Conference decried the situation, saying, “The conflict is causing massive destruction of human lives, property and livelihoods to the surprise of many, who never expected such an unfortunate situation to unfold in Sudan.”

They also urged the faithful not to be discouraged but to have faith in God. Emphasizing their trust in God, the prelates added, “As Bishops, we believe that our strength comes from the power of prayers, an act which raises our hope for a better tomorrow.”