Spiritual Solidarity in Fashoda
A delegation of Catholic bishops crossed the Sobat River into Kodok on Saturday to stand beside households surrounded by floodwater. Led by Bishop Stephen Nyodho of Malakal, the clerics walked narrow embankments, greeting children and elders while praying for resilience among the displaced.
In brief remarks, Bishop Nyodho thanked residents for keeping peace despite submerged farms, damaged huts and blocked roads. He urged them “to live in hope, love and peace” and insisted the waters, though stubborn, would retreat as collective patience grows.
Flood Impact on Upper Nile Communities
Months of heavy rain have expanded nearby marshlands into wide lakes, isolating villages and diluting harvest stocks. Humanitarian workers say canoes now replace motorbikes for essential travel, while school schedules depend on the tide. Yet church bells still ring from makeshift altars.
First Bishops Conference in Malakal
The bishops’ presence precedes the Catholic Bishops’ Conference opening on Sunday in Malakal, the first of its kind hosted in Upper Nile. Organisers plan to discuss pastoral care in flood-prone zones, conflict mediation and youth employment, aligning church priorities with local development agendas.
Bishop Nyodho’s Message of Hope
“Our journey is a signal of communion,” Bishop Nyodho told Eye Radio reporters, his shoes still wet from Kodok’s clay paths. He added that sharing meals with evacuees deepened the clergy’s understanding of small Christian communities and the practical meaning of solidarity.