WCC News: WCC appeals for ending hostilities in Sudan to ensure a sustainable peace

World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed grave concern about the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Sudan, and urged an end to hostilities. A weekly market in Gidel, a village in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. Photo: Paul Jeffrey/Life on Earth 27 April 2023 “As many other countries move to evacuate their citizens, WCC member church and ecumenical partner contacts in Sudan report that after more than ten days of armed violence and destruction, hospitals are still not operating, shops and markets remain closed, and essential services are still not functioning,” he said. “People are struggling to find food and the basic necessities of life.” Pillay appealed to the warring parties to refrain from any further hostilities - especially affecting civilians and civilian areas, to respect and protect places of worship (churches and mosques), and to act urgently to ensure a sustainable peace, so that essential services can be restored and critically-needed humanitarian operations resumed. “The WCC urges a swift and sufficient response by the international community to the humanitarian emergency resulting from this unconscionable violence, and supports calls for an urgent special session of the UN Human Rights Council on the consequent human rights crisis in Sudan,” said Pillay. “We encourage all WCC member churches, ecumenical and interfaith partners, and all people of good will to join in prayers for peace and in active solidarity with the people of Sudan.” WCC statement on the situation in Sudan, 26.4.2023 NGO call for a special session on Sudan to To Permanent Representatives of Member and Observer States of the UN Human Rights Council See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland