Let’s pray for Africa and the peace in the World

Let’s pray for Africa, affected by heavy rains causing victims, floods, landslides, and displacements. In Tanzania, at least 155 people have been killed due to floods and landslides, while 55,000 households have been destroyed, affecting 200,000 people. In Kenya, 35 people have been reported dead, and the number could increase as the situation is not yet under control. In Nigeria, 100 inmates escaped from a prison after heavy overnight rains destroyed parts of the facility. Authorities have recaptured 10 inmates, while the police are searching for the others. This weather conditions are caused by the El Niño climate pattern that worsened the rainy season, and together with deforestation, unsustainable farming, and unregulated livestock grazing, environmental degradation is increasing. May God give us the strength to change our mentality and way of living to hear the cry of the Earth and our people.

We pray for the people in Burkina Faso. According to Human Rights Watch, there was a military campaign against civilians accused of links to armed groups. The military forces are accused of executing 223 civilians, including at least 56 children, from the villages of Nondin and Soro in February 2024. Reports were compiled from interviews conducted with survivors and the geolocation of eight mass graves. This is not the first country where civilians have been caught in the middle of the fights between armed groups and security forces. May God give us the strength to protect the human rights of people in vulnerable places, and let's keep working to be the change we want to see in the world.

We thank God for communities in Pakistan combating climate change. Mangroves in the country have tripled since 1986 to 2020, thanks to the planting and conservation efforts led by local communities. In Dam, Balochistan province, a researcher and nursery expert in mangroves is leading nurseries to expand mangrove forests with 50,000 samples. This five-year project restored 16 hectares. Mangroves protect coastlines, provide habitats, sequester carbon, and sustain livelihoods for over 120 million people globally. While mangrove forests are declining globally, Pakistan's efforts, led by local authorities, NGOs, and civil society, show a commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development.

JPIC USG/UISG in Roma