UK Bishop leads fundraising initiative for #SouthSudan famine relief

A church diocese in the United Kingdom is seeking to raise £50,000 to support famine relief efforts in South Sudan.

The Diocese of Salisbury launched the fundraising initiative at the start of March, and hopes to reach its target by the end of the Christian period of Lent on Easter Sunday, April 16.

Salisbury Diocese shares a 44-year relationship with South Sudan, through support in areas of education and health.

The fundraising is in response to an appeal put out by the UK Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella organization of 13 UK aid charities to support life-saving work on the ground in South Sudan and other famine affected countries.

In February, the United Nations declared a famine in parts of Southern Unity. It warned that 100,000 face starvation and at least a further million are facing famine.

The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam spoke exclusively to Radio Miraya and said the church has raised more than half the amount, and is confident it will reach the £50,000 target by Easter.

Bishop Holtam has more in this interview with Susan Dokolo in this interview.