ICC Note: A Christian charity has begun an emergency campaign to care for children in South Sudan. This majority Christian nation is war-torn and has become increasingly dangerous as violence, lack of food support, and the spread of deadly diseases has taken a toll on the population. The fighting has been a result of border clashes, armed rebellions, and cattle feuds ever since South Sudan became independent in 2011 (dividing the Sudanese Christians and Muslims along state lines).
06/10/2018 South Sudan (Premier) – Christian charity Mary’s Meals has launched an emergency campaign to increase the number of children it can feed in war-torn South Sudan.
Officials said seven million people in the African country are facing a hunger crisis as the lean season between harvests approaches and fighting continues.
The Scottish-based charity, which provides a daily meal to children attending school in some of the poorest parts of the world, has worked in South Sudan since 2008.
It already feeds more than 20,000 children but more young people are now trying to enrol at schools serving Mary’s Meals as a number of other schools have been destroyed in the war.
Charity founder and chief executive Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow said: “The plight of children in South Sudan is truly heartbreaking.
“For them, the promise of a daily school meal has never been more important.
“We are determined to keep our promise to the 1,257,278 children around the world who rely on Mary’s Meals.
“With more hungry children arriving at schools in South Sudan each day, we also need help to meet the growing demand there.
“We hope to ensure that every new child enrolling at schools in South Sudan already serving Mary’s Meals can receive a daily meal and, as funds allow, also expand our program to reach 1,657 additional children at five new schools there.
“We can do this with support while continuing to expand our program around the world to reach many more children.”
Mary’s Meals has been working with the Diocese of Rumbek to feed children at 40 schools in the area.
…
For interviews with Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: press@persecution.org
