Fr. Bassano lives in a UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) camp near the devastated city of Malakal in northeastern South Sudan. Until early 2013 when it was destroyed in fighting between the SPLA (Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army) and the Nuer White Army, Malakal was South Sudan’s second largest city with a population of 150-200,000. Currently, about 30,000 IDPs (internally displaced persons) live in the UNHCR camp near Malakal where Fr. Bassano serves. Perhaps 10,000 people remain in the ruins of Malakal and the surrounding countryside.
During the last few years, Fr. Bassano has been able to offer food assistance to food-insecure people living in and around Malakal. He has done so with the assistance of the UNWFP (United Nations World Food Programme) who provide for the shipment of food, its distribution, and security during the distribution.
Today only 10,000 people remain in the ruins of Malakal and the surrounding countryside. There are about 2,000 people at the Wau Shillok Primary School, the Lul RRC compound, and Kokok World Vision compound who are in desperate need of food. Your gift will provide life sustaining food for these people.
In early 2019, the Kenyan government declared a national drought emergency. Since then, the number of food insecure-people more than doubled – from 1.3 million to 2.7 million. Over 250,000 children, and pregnant and nursing mothers are acutely malnourished.
Severe drought has dried up water resources in half of Kenya’s 47 counties and an estimated 3 million people lack access to clean water. Recurrent droughts have destroyed livelihoods, triggered local conflicts over scarce resources, and eroded the ability of communities to cope. Families are on the move, which poses protection risks for women and children who are becoming internally displaced persons. More than 1.2 million children are in need of education assistance. Kenya is experiencing multiple disease outbreaks including cholera and measles. Approximately, 2.9 million people require lifesaving medical interventions and community-based primary health outreach.
With your support, Fr. Nadeau and local pastors will disburse food to the area people.
Maryknoll Father Joseph Fedora runs a feeding program in Peru’s San Pedro de Lurigancho prison for 20 ailing prisoners living with HIV/AIDS. When prisoners on anti-retroviral drugs regain their weight, they no longer receive their medicines and become undernourished all over again. Father Joe provides them with nutritious meals and counsels those who ask for spiritual guidance.
Throughyour generosityand prayers, these men will receive the nourishment they need – both physically and spiritually.
We are a Catholic Society of priests and brothers based in the United States. We are dedicated to missionary work overseas in over 20 countries. Additionally, we animate Catholics in the United States to follow their own baptismal call to share God’s compassion and love with the poor, the sick, and all those in need.
The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Africa Region will provide tuition assistance to African clergy, male and female religious at institutes of higher education or specialized training. Read More
The life of a Maryknoll missioner is challenging, fulfilling, and deeply rewarding. Follow your baptismal call to mission by sharing God’s compassion with the poor, the sick, and people most in need.
