South Sudan releases 280 child soldiers: UN
January 27, 2015 (JUBA) – 280 child soldiers from South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA) Cobra Faction, a former rebel group based in Jonglei state, have been set free, the United Nations said Tuesday.
The SSDA, whose activities were in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA), struck an agreement with government last year, leading to creation of GPAA led by former leader, David Yau Yau.
The UN children fund (UNICEF), in a press statement, said a group of 280 children was released by SSDA on Tuesday in Gumuruk county.
“Some have been fighting for up to four years and many have never attended school,” reads the statement extended to Sudan Tribune.
According to UNICEF, 12,000 children, mostly boys were recruited and used as soldiers by armed forces and groups in South Sudan.
The demobilized children are aged 11 to 17, the agency stressed.
The Gumuruk ceremony to release the children from the armed units was witnessed by South Sudan Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Commission and Yau Yau’s Cobra Faction.
“These children have been forced to do and see things no child should ever experience,” said Jonathan Veitch, the UNICEF South Sudan representative.
“The release of thousands of children requires a massive response to provide the support and protection these children need to begin rebuilding their lives,” he added.
The released children will be reportedly supported with basic health care and protection services and necessities such as food, water and clothing to help them get ready to return to their families.
Such forms of support, UNICEF said, will also involve counseling and other psychological support programmes urgently being established.
The children will also access education and skills training programs.
Meanwhile, UNICEF said it is working to trace and reunite the children with their families, a daunting task in a country where over a million children have either been displaced internally or have fled to neighbouring countries since fighting broke out in December 2013.
Support will extend to local communities to prevent and reduce discrimination against those returning, as well as possible recruitment.
“The successful reintegration of these children back into their communities depends on a timely, coordinated response to meet their immediate and long-term needs,” stressed Veitch.
“These programmes require significant resources,” he added.
Approximately $2,330 is required for the release and reintegration of each child over the next 24 months, UNICEF estimates show.
(ST)