WCC News: WCC expresses grave concern over landslide in Papua New Guinea

World Council of Churches general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay expressed grave concern in the wake of a landslide in Papua New Guinea that has killed at least 670 people, according to United Nations reports. Photo: Sean Hawkey/Life on Earth 27 May 2024 The landslide hit a rural region of the island nation on 24 May, but search-and-rescue efforts have been hampered by difficulty in reaching the disaster site and by the hazard that the shifting ground continues to pose. Papua New Guinea government reports that more than 2,000 people are believed to have been buried alive by the landslide. The region is densely populated, according to local reports, and has a young population. Authorities fear that many of the fatalities will be children under 15. Aid convoys are delivering relief supplies but face challenging conditions. As of 26 May, land was still sliding, rocks were falling, and the soil was cracking from increased pressure and running groundwater.  “We pray for the people in urgent need, for those who have lost loved ones, and for those who face a long recovery from this terrible disaster,” said Pillay. “You are not forgotten. You are children of God who are being held in prayer by your global ecumenical family.” WCC member churches in Papua New Guinea 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