13 children re-united with their parents in S. Sudan: UNICEF
January 4, 2016 (KAMPALA) – At least 13 children who had been separated by the violent conflict in South Sudan were reunited with parents at the end of December last year.
Among those who joined their parents, UNICEF said, were Khan, Delanga and Nyakuar. The trio from Akobo county of Jonglei state were reunited with their parents last week.
“As the UN helicopter takes off, Khan, whispers to his sister that he’s scared. She replies that he’ll soon see his mother and father again, for the first time in years. Then a big smile comes across Khan’s face as he looks out the window and sees the ground moving beneath him,” the agency said in a report.
It however expressed concerns that many children in South Sudan remained at great risk, having been separated from their parents since conflict erupted in December 2013.
UNICEF, in its report, said it had made it successful through supports of partners such as the Nonviolent Peace Force in Juba and Save the Children in Akobo to make the children and their parents come together during Christmas time.
“Throughout the year, families tracing efforts and even road travel have been continually disrupted by conflict, violence and heavy rains. Even when their parents were actually located in Akobo, in the far east of the country, speaking to their parents on the phone was difficult as phone masts were often turned off for security reasons,” the agency said.
One of the children, only identified as Delanga, said he was overwhelmed by the reunification after two years of missing his parents.
“Today the family can be happy again. I’m thankful to everyone that made this happen,” he said.
An estimated 8,000 children, the agency says, have been separated from parents due to the conflict. Half of these children, it said, were reunified with their parents over the last six months, adding that with the continued support from its donors and partners, it would be able to bring even more families back together in 2016.
(ST)