Caritas tells Sudan, South Sudan: it's not too late to avoid war

(April 25, 2012) The international Caritas organization is urging Sudan and the newly created South Sudan to pull back from further military action and avoid falling into a full scale war. South Sudan became independent from Sudan last July following a popular vote. It was the culmination of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended decades of war. However, areas of contention including border demarcation, the status of disputed areas in Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile, and oil rights still have not been resolved. In a statement on Tuesday, Caritas expressed concern that recent clashes over these issues have now brought the two countries to the brink of war. Caritas Internationalis Secretary-General Michel Roy said, “Caritas appeals to Sudan and South Sudan to stop military actions along the border. It’s not too late for both governments to check the momentum leading to an all out war. Peace can only be achieved by returning to the negotiating table and fully implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. According to estimates, some two million people died in the last war. Roy assured that Caritas Internationalis stands in solidarity with the people of Sudan and South Sudan. "We are committed to supporting the efforts of the Church at providing humanitarian assistance and fostering peace between the nations," he added. Caritas organisations have operations in Sudan and South Sudan, including pre-emergency planning to cope with the fallout from a return to fighting with its large displacement of people.