In his last book, the late Zygmunt Bauman defines the concept of moral insensitivity as "a kind of cruel, inhuman and ruthless behaviour or as an indifferent attitude shown towards the trials and tribulations of others." Today millions of people are living with hunger and we who "are fine", live with moral and human insensitivity.
Thousands of children in South Sudan are struggling "between life and death, fighting in small towns against malnutrition." "The army is closing roads and causing food shortages in entire areas. It is causing an induced starvation," wrote Alberto Rojas, a journalist of "El Mundo".
This famine was declared officially, but it is an "induced famine". Aware of this drama Pope Francis announced in response to question from a Nigerian seminarian that "we are considering a trip to South Sudan." "Good luck, brave and foolhardy Pope! May your mission to South Sudan be both possible and successful! The people and the poor in South Sudan, who weep and cry out for peace, are waiting for you. And they need you. You are their only hope," wrote J. M. Vidal, a writer for "Religión Digital".
"And the Salesians?" some readers may ask. They continue to work in the midst of war, hunger and, perhaps, in the midst of solitude. They continue to serve in refugee camps, welcoming all those who ask for help. Along with the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, they are still offering religious assistance and aid, shelter, food, clothing, health and hygiene for patients.
The silence and the fear of speaking the terrible truth of this "induced famine" will cause millions of deaths: "5.5 million, at the height of the dry season, in July, when the harvest will have run out, if nothing is done to stop the spread and severity of the food crisis," according to the FAO.
