While expressing his concern about the ongoing turmoil in the Middle East, the Moderator has written to all ministers explaining why action is also urgently needed in South Sudan:
While it has not been so well covered in the media, a humanitarian crisis on an even greater scale is currently unfolding in South Sudan. The UN Security Council has identified the food crisis there as “the worst in the world” with four million people in need of emergency food aid, water and medical treatment. Right now, the world’s youngest nation is on the brink of the worst famine the world has seen in over thirty years.
This affects more than one million members of our partner church, the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan, whose Moderator, Rt. Rev. Peter GaiLual, addressed our General Assembly so movingly in June. Aid agencies are adamant that the time for the international community to act is now!
Given the scale of this particular need, today I am launching a special Moderator-supported Appeal for South Sudan, and would take the opportunity to urge you to respond generously and without delay, just as you have on many previous occasions.
In anticipation of your generosity we are immediately releasing £50,000 to be distributed to Christian Aid, Tearfund, and the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan’s Relief and Development Agency (PRDA). Despite working in a very challenging environment, these agencies will ensure that your contributions are used wisely in the provision of immediate relief of those suffering the most in South Sudan.
I would encourage you to continue to pray and to give generously that we may play our part in saving lives and restoring hope to the many caught up in this catastrophic situation.
Congregations are asked to contribute over the next few Sundays under the Gift Aid Scheme with funds then sent in to Assembly Buildings. Donations can also be made directly on the Presbyterian website www.presbyterianireland.org/giving/donate.
Those wishing to respond to the crises in Iraq and Gaza are encouraged to give directly to Christian Aid and Tearfund who are running appeals focused on the Middle East region via their websites www.christianaid.ie and www.tearfund.org.