The plane suddenly drops. Chogi’s hand shoots out grabbing his big brother’s thigh and squeezing tightly. He turns to me with a face looking like a question mark, and I reassure him everything is ok. Two seconds later the turbulence is over, but the eight-year-old’s hand rests on Jidu – just in case.
Chogi doesn’t remember last time he was on an airplane. He was four-years-old back in 2013 and they had just escaped the bullets flying in Malakal, in the north east of the country. Their mother was out collecting firewood when the fighting started. A neighbor grabbed Chogi, Jidu and their sister Ferdos and fled by foot and boat to Fangak, about 60 kilometers away. It took several days, “we had to sleep outside every night,” Jidu remembers.
UNICEF South Sudan
In Fangak they spent a few weeks before they were taken by plane to the capital Juba. Since the day they fled, the three have prayed their mother is alive and that one day they will feel her warm embrace once again.
Three excited faces are glued to the windows as the wheels touch down in Malakal. The pilot hits the brakes and shortly after the siblings set foot on ground. Almost home.
In the protection of civilians (PoC) site in Malakal, Khamisa Adam puts on her best dress with green and purple batik patterns, and walks the 20 meters from her iron sheet home to the road. Friends and neighbors have already gathered and are now waiting with her under the baking sun.
Chogi, Jidu and Ferdos climb into the UNICEF car, Chogi goes in the front with me to see better. There is total silence. No one is saying anything, except for the driver reporting our movements to the radio room. Three pair of eyes peer out through the windows.
In the PoC, Khamisa sees the UNICEF logo on the car and starts walking towards it, then dashes along the last ten meters until the vehicle has made its final stop. The door opens and Jidu runs into his mother’s arms. Ferdos is just seconds behind and is immediately embraced. Tears are running down everyone’s cheeks when Chogi jumps down from the front seat and is immediately picked up and kissed. They are finally together again as a family.
UNICEF South Sudan
Across South Sudan UNICEF and partners are committed to making families whole again. Since the conflict began in December 2013 close to 6,000 children have been reunited with their parents or caregiver. Still, 15,000 children remain separated from their families or are missing.
The whole para will now be: Across South Sudan UNICEF and partners are committed to making families whole again. Since the conflict began in December 2013 close to 6,000 children have been reunited with their parents or caregivers. Still, 15,000 children remain separated from their families or are missing.
Mary, my child protection colleague in Malakal said to me after the reunification that she cries happy tears every time she sees a family made whole again. “There is something special about those moments, and you forget all the hours of hard work going into every case and every family,” she says. We filmed this reunification to document this magical moment and I still get goosebumps when I’m watching it. Take a look yourself.[1]
References
- ^ Take a look yourself. (www.youtube.com)
Newer articles:
- South Sudan: Aid agencies appeal for $1.5 billion to reach 5.7 million people with life-saving assistance - 12/12/2018 16:00
- IGAD political role is more needed in South Sudan than its troops: UN chief - 12/12/2018 16:00
- No easy road out as South Sudan marks half a decade of war - 12/12/2018 11:59
- How the United States Kept Arms Flowing into South Sudan - 12/12/2018 11:39
- Mabuza meets with South Sudan President Salva Kiir - 12/12/2018 10:36
Older news items
- Book Launch: ‘Casebook on Constitutional Litigation to Advance the Rule of Law in South Sudan’ - 12/12/2018 03:36
- Chatham House Research Event: Weapon Supplies into South Sudan's Civil War - 12/12/2018 03:31
- South Sudan’s Kiir directs to vacate newcomers from IDPs land - 11/12/2018 14:45
- South Sudan sexual violence victims narrate their ordeals - 11/12/2018 03:27
- South Sudan to relocate victims of oil pollution - 11/12/2018 02:27
Latest news items (all categories):
- The power struggles among South Sudan’s political leaders are the direct cause of its ongoing conflict - 11/07/2026 14:03
- Celebrating Independence In The Midst Of Sorrow - 11/07/2026 13:41
- South Sudan resumes oil-backed financing - 11/07/2026 13:33
- Press statement: Strive For National Unity In Honor Of South Sudan's Independence - 10/07/2026 21:23
- Fifteen years of independence for South Sudan, but still little to celebrate - 10/07/2026 21:23
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan David Yau Yau Defects for the Second Time - AllAfrica.com - 09/04/2012 09:03
- Co-op Bank extends joint venture with South Sudan - 23/08/2021 01:07
- Who Will Save Gen.Gabriel Jok Riak Makol From The Hands Of Office Monsters? - 30/03/2020 20:19
- South Sudan: UN agency scales up cholera response with 500,000 doses of oral vaccine - 20/07/2017 16:20
- South Sudanese demand back pay before flight - Haaretz - 17/06/2012 00:00
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 147768 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 27843 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 24934 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 24254 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 22164 times
