17.12.2021
Wicklow rector hangs up ‘sandbag stocking’ to raise awareness of hunger crisis in flood–hit South Sudan
A new festive tradition began in Wicklow this week when the Rector hung a sandbag on his mantlepiece instead of a Christmas stocking, to raise awareness of the hunger crisis in flood–hit South Sudan. The Revd Jack Kinkead is the Church of Ireland rector of Wicklow and Killiskey.
Normally deployed in flood prevention, the sandbag is being used as a reminder that extreme weather exacerbated by climate change is a powerful driver of poverty and hunger, especially in flood–prone countries such as South Sudan.
In October, South Sudan saw its worst flooding in nearly 60 years, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to abandon their homes. Unusually heavy rainfall in recent months caused the Nile to burst its banks, leaving huge swathes of rich farmland under water. As well as destroying homes, the flooding killed livestock and destroyed crops, worsening a food crisis which has left 2.4 million people at risk of falling into famine.
With his sandbag Christmas stocking, Jack is giving his backing to Christian Aid Ireland’s Christmas appeal which this year focuses on the hunger crisis in South Sudan. The Church of Ireland is one of Christian Aid’s sponsoring churches and Jack is an enthusiastic supporter of its work to end extreme poverty.
Christian Aid is working through local partners to respond to the hunger and flooding crisis in South Sudan. The charity is providing emergency life–saving support including blankets, mosquito nets, water purification tablets and cash to flood–affected families as well as cash, seeds, farming tools and fishing kits to families struggling to get enough food to eat.
Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett thanked Mr Kinkead and all his parishioners who support the charity’s work to relieve poverty in South Sudan and around the world:
“Through his support for our work, Rev Kinkead is standing in solidarity with people living in desperate situations. This year, his ‘sandbag stocking’ is helping to raise awareness of the impact that flooding is having on an already terrible hunger crisis in South Sudan.”
To support Christian Aid’s Christmas appeal, visit caid.ie/Christmas or call 01 496 7040 to make a telephone donation.