On 21/06/2017 Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the office for Integral Human Development, gave details of humanitarian projects, in South Sudan. He also outlined numerous initiatives that the Holy See has taken to stop the war in South Sudan. Despite postponing his trip there until 2018, Pope Francis is determined to raise awareness about the needs of those suffering from conflict and starvation there.
He has donated about half a million pounds, to support a college in Yambio, training teachers, nurses, midwives, farmers and community leaders, two hospitals run by Comboni missionaries and an agricultural project, run by Caritas, providing livelihoods for 2,500 families in the dioceses of Yei, Yambio and Torit.
Cardinal Turkson has been personally involved in two mediation efforts to bring together warring leaders President Salva Kiir and his former deputy Riek Machar, whilst the nuncio in Kenya also met with Machar last December urging the parties to come to the negotiating table.
So far, these attempts have failed to bring peace, but the Holy See continues to do all it can to stop the fighting in South Sudan, determined that this not become just another forgotten conflict, like Darfur.