Pope 's appeal for Horn of Africa

(Oct. 04, 2011) Pope Benedict XVI has appealed for a quick response to deal with the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the Horn of Africa due to drought, famine and conflict. The Pope made the appeal at the end of his general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. He said “I renew my heartfelt invitation to the international community to continue its commitment to those people, and invite all to offer prayers and concrete help to the many brothers and sisters, who are severely tried, and particularly children, who are dying everyday in the region because of a lack of water and food.”
The Pope said that Cardinal Robert Sarah, President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”,which coordinates the Catholic Church’s charity and development operations worldwide; Mons.Giorgio Bertin, apostolic Administrator of Mogadishu, Somalia; the representative of the spiritual Head of the Anglican Community, Archbishop Rowan Williams, and representatives of catholic charities, would be meeting to verify the situation and provide a new impetus to the initiatives needed to tackle the humanitarian emergency. It is estimated that drought, famine and conflict in the Horn of Africa has claimed the lives of thousands in Sudan, Eriteria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. 800,000 children are facing death and 30.000 have died already. Some $ 2.5 billion is needed to help the affected countries.