On October 5, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal to the international community to help people suffering famine in the Horn of Africa.
During his general audience that morning, the Holy Father said, “I renew my heartfelt appeal to the international community to continue its commitment to these people. At the same time I invite everyone to offer prayers and concrete support to so many sorely tried brothers and sisters, particularly to the children of the region who are dying every day because of the lack of water and food”.
Since the beginning of the drought and hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa in July, tens of thousands of refugees have fled Somalia, most of them into Kenya and Ethiopia. They march for days or even weeks. Some do not survive the journey; others lose family members on the way or have to leave them behind.
“I walked one month to reach Addis (Ababa, the Ethiopian capital), my legs were swollen and I was too weak to speak when I finally arrived,” says Idil, a 59-year-old Somali woman. “I had to leave my mother behind on the way, she was too old, she didn’t make it and I had to save my own life. Now I worry about her,” she adds.
Fr Frido Pflueger SJ, Regional Director, Jesuit Refugee Service Eastern Africa visited the refugee camps of Dollo Ado in Ethiopia in August. He was deeply touched by the resilience of the Somali refugees and came to realise that it was their faith that gave them the strength to continue.
“I think that the faith of the Somali refugees helps them to handle this situation without giving up. Their faith gives them strength and resilience because faith always has to do with hope and confidence,” he said.
“To see such deep faith raises the question in me whether we, in our secularised environment, would be able to face such a situation with the same resilience. What would be our source of resilience? Reflecting about this question, the Muslim refugees become our teachers.”
Click here to read Fr Pflueger’s reflection and join JRS in praying with the Somali refugees.
Photo: A Somali refugee girl at the transit centre in Dollo Ado, Ethiopia. Until September thousands of refugees were camping here before being transferred to the newly established Helawen camp. (Angelika Mendes/Jesuit Refugee Service)
