Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
By Bonifacio Taban Kuich
December 14, 2011 (BENTIU) – Child labour is an increasing in South Sudan according to Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare in Unity state due to displacement from conflict and as their parents are not able to provide for them.
Stephen Yien Kot, 15, said he was working mending shoes to pay for his school fees and to feed and clothe himself. He says on a good day can make up to 30 South Sudanese Pounds ($12).
“When we are working here it does not mean that we don’t have parent, but our parent are still alive, it’s because we don’t want to sit idle at home, our present working in the market is to get some cash for our own use, our parent may also help in family expenses, but we need to work and get money so us to buy clothes for ourselves that is why we are here today”, said Kot.
Unity state government officials say the increase in street children and child labour is due to insecurity caused by the rebel South Sudan Libertation Army (SSLA), which has recently attacked Mayom, Rubkotna and Abiemhnom counties causing displacement.
Mathak Matiok director general for the state Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare of Unity State says he plans to make an assessment on both street children and child labour practices next year.
This will involve identifying and registering the children as well as finding the root causes of the issue.
He said his ministry will continue to work to re-unite street children with their parents if they are alive and will build centres for orphans in partnership with civil society groups.
However, many children are forced to work by their parents or have to work in order to feed themselves. Stephen Yien Thot says that he still attends school when he can, but some children are forced to work all year round.
Some parents have told Sudan Tribune that the state government must do more the address the problem.
(ST)
Malual Bol
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Mathak, why are your statements as a DG contradict over the street children? You said that the number of the street children iincreased because of the insecurity, yet the children themselves put it very clearly that they decided to do such works in order to make money.They make money as to pay their school expenses and also to reinforce their iliterate parents who do not own any office in the govt
Malual Bol
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Mathak Matiok, why don’t begin to scientifically study the general situation in our state as a young nationalist because the future is yours as the old crooks are being phase out.
To me four independent variables become very clear in contributing to the current situation in Unity State; they are; 1. ethnicity, 2. oil rvenues/money, 3. divide and rule fashion by Juba leadership, 4. fears from Kiir
Malual Bol
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Our president Salva Kiir fears so much the unity of the people of entire Greater Upper Nile. He has to make sure that they are engaged in fighting, and continuing to impose unwanted leaders like Taban Deng or Kun Puoch or General Kuol Manyang, as to continue with his tyrany leadership like Gadaffi/Libya or Mobarek/Egypt or Yori/Uganda or Sadam/Iraq. Kiir should learn from all these strongest bany.
Daniel Buolmawei
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Stephen Yien Kot, 15, said he was working mending shoes to pay for his school fees and to feed and clothe himself. He says on a good day can make up to 30 South Sudanese Pounds ($12).
Great boy. A great soul. One day we will come in to rescue.
Madina Tonj
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Those rebels are being pay to make their own nation worst instead, fighting with Khartoum who invaded mother land.
What a shameful to these rebel associate with Khartoum regime.? The governor must find the way to help these children but don’t let them burning themselves too early for them to work. Let them learn school
Thomas Ader
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Do not compared Kiir those leaders because he has not been a president for more than 30 to 40 years compared those, he is working hard to try to united the poeple of South Sudan but one hand do not clam itself.
There might be some individuals whom you may know that do not want the rest to share the fruit of New Nations. what I would like guys asked for sugestion boxes to be place somewhere.
J P Puok
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
this is a complete noncense.
Where on earth can you failed to substantiated your comment?
mon-mandhal
Rebellions increasing street children in Unity state
Malual shuold know that all the problems in Uppernile are enginned by Uppernil natives not Kiir.The president did,t appoit those three governors,it was we who elected them so if we feel that they have failed to meet our interests,then the choice is ours to remove them using peacefull means then war.