Our Lady of Mercy Parish is formed of the Catholic communities of St Cecilia’s and St Patrick’s Church, St Mary’s Church, the Sisters of Mercy, St Mary’s RC Primary School, St Anthony’s Girls' Catholic Academy, St Aidan’s Catholic Academy and the Sunderland University Catholic Chaplaincy.

Jesus Christ unites and inspires us through his Word and the sacraments to share the good news with the people of Sunderland. Together with others working for the common good, we welcome everyone in a spirit of friendship and service so that all people may know God’s love.

The hunger situation in Karamoja is not a new phenomenon and has continued to take different dimensions over the years. The climate and poor harvest being major factors, but over the past two years the growing insecurity means that people connot reach their farms to cultivate. And so the poor harvest of the past years, the Covid effects and rising insecurity have made the situation dire and very difficult for many to earn what to eat.

During the past few months the government has come in with some relief food. However, their food could not serve everybody. And the long protocol makes it difficult for the food to reach those most in need.

The government has been helping some communities with food distribution. But the distribution ends up chaotic and the struggle for food makes the old and weak even unable to get helped by the food distribution in the local councils.

At least 58 people in Kotido district have reportedly died of hunger between May and June this year due to the food crisis.

A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) indicates that about 518,000 people, approximately 40 percent of the population in the Karamoja sub-region, are facing high levels of food insecurity. The severe shortage of food has led to widespread malnutrition, which caused the death of 58 children and elderly people between May and June this year.

The number of people dying from hunger is on the rise and will keep multiplying before the harvest period expected in September.

Early this week, the government said that it will direct more funding towards the hunger crisis in Karamoja and Teso sub-regions. We keep expecting and hoping it will arrive and will be free from corrupt means of distribution.

In the mission there are always people coming to seek food relief; malnourished children and old people seeking just a meal a day to keep on. The old and young are especially vulnerable as they are left on their own by the others who go to fend for themselves. We remain in need of any support we can get to sustain especially those starving. We have tried also to support life up till now with our meagre resources but the situation remains very regrettable as we are getting worrying reports of people dying due to malnutrition.

Ignatius Tanjua Nshing MHM