This is a fantastic news we wanted to share with you: Dr Tom Catena who was featured in the film The Heart of Nuba directed by Ken Carlson, received Aurora Prize on May 27 in Yerevan, Armenia.
You already know Dr Tom, we organized a screening of the documentary film last year in December, and if you don’t know yet the brave and incredible work of Tom Catena at the Mother of Mercy Hosptial in the Nuba Monutains in Sudan, visit our page dedicated to the movie.
From the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative website:
The $1 Million Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity was awarded tonight to Dr. Tom Catena, a Catholic missionary from Amsterdam, New York who has saved thousands of lives as the sole doctor permanently based in Sudan’s war-ravaged Nuba Mountains where humanitarian aid is restricted. The Aurora Prize, granted by the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative on behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, was announced at a ceremony in Yerevan, Armenia. He was selected as the 2017 Aurora Prize Laureate from more than 550 nominations submitted from 66 countries.
George Clooney, Academy Award-winning actor, Co-Founder of both The Sentry and Not On Our Watch, and Co-Chair of the Aurora Prize Selection Committee, commended Dr. Catena by stating, “As violence and war continue to threaten people’s spirits and perseverance, it is important to recognize, empower and celebrate people like Dr. Catena who are selflessly helping others to not only survive, but thrive. Dr. Catena is a role model to us all, and yet another example of people on the ground truly making a difference.”
Dr. Catena will receive a $100,000 grant and the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by donating the accompanying $1,000,000 award to organizations of his choice. Dr. Catena will donate the award to three organizations:
African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), USA
Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB), USA
Aktion Canchanabury, Germany
Radio Dabanga reports that on Sunday, the Guardian newspaper published an article by Dr Catena in which he calls for financial support from the international community. He says his heart sank last week when President Trump announced proposed cuts in the foreign aid budget. He pointed to similar developments in Australia and the UK as well.
“This comes at a time when the world faces its worst humanitarian crisis since 1945, according to the UN. Twenty million people face starvation without an immediate injection of funds in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia and Nigeria,” he states, calling on the international community “to help us better serve the people who need our services. “At a time when famine is reaching a crisis point in parts of Africa, and countless children are dying of starvation, the need for support from the world’s richest nations is even more critical,” he concluded.
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