Church asks prayers for safety of Filipinos in Sudan
AS violence in Sudan continues, the migration body of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has asked for prayers for the Filipinos based in the African country.
Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (ECMI) said they are concerned over the safety of about 258 Filipinos in Sudan.
“They are in a very difficult and dangerous situation,” said Santos, who is also the bishop of the Diocese of Balanga.
“We are with you. We support our government to keep you all well-protected and bring you safely back home,” he said.
The ECMI vice chairman called on migrants’ chaplains to offer Masses for the safety of Filipinos in Sudan and for peace in the troubled nation.
“We are praying and offering holy Masses for their safety and security,” he said.
The prelate, on the other hand, advised Filipinos in Sudan to do their part in keeping themselves safe.
“We advise them to remain calm, courageous, and prayerful. Stay in their place, don’t venture outside, and always heed the advice of our government officials,” he added.
More than 1,800 people have been injured since the fighting between armed factions erupted on Saturday, U.N. envoy for Sudan Volker Perthes said.
He also put the death toll at 185 on Monday as fighting for control of the country between the army and a paramilitary group called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) showed no sign of stopping.
The violence is between army units loyal to the de facto leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF led by Sudan’s deputy leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo.
