11 February 2015 The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF[1]) is applauding the release of another 300 children from an armed group in South Sudan – the second such UN-backed demobilization of child soldiers in less than a month.
“For every child released, it’s the chance for a new life,” UNICEF South Sudan Representative Jonathan Veitch stated in a press release[2] issued earlier today and welcoming the news.
Two weeks ago, an initial group of 249 children – ranging from 11 to 17 years of age – was released by the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA) Cobra Faction at the village of Gumuruk in Jonglei state. The release was marked by a ceremony overseen by UNICEF and the South Sudan National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission during which the child soldiers reportedly surrendered their weapons and uniforms. Further phased releases of the other children are planned over the coming month.
According to the UN agency, some of the child soldiers have been fighting for up to four years and many have never attended school. In the last year alone, 12,000 children, mostly boys, have been recruited and used as soldiers by armed forces and groups in South Sudan as a whole.
The security situation in South Sudan deteriorated steadily over the past year since political in-fighting between South Sudan's President Salva Kiir and his former deputy, Riek Machar, started in mid-December 2013. The hostilities subsequently turned into a full-fledged conflict that has sent nearly 100,000 civilians fleeing to UNMISS bases around the country. The crisis has uprooted an estimated 1.9 million people and placed more than 7 million at risk of hunger and disease.
Nonetheless, a recent peace deal between the warring factions has fostered hope of a definitive end to the year-long conflict.
In the two weeks since the first group’s release, 179 children have returned home to their families while 70 others continue to live in the UNICEF-supported interim care centre as family tracing and reunification efforts are carried out.
Meanwhile, the 300 children released in the current demobilization will spend their first night in an interim care centre where they will be provided with food, water and clothing and also gain access to health and psychosocial services.
“We are witnessing the negative consequences that being in an armed group has had on the boys; some are withdrawn while others exhibit violent and aggressive behaviour. Instead of playing, they march up and down,” Mr. Veitch continued.
“To avoid the risk of re-recruitment and to ensure that each child can fulfil their potential, they need a protective environment where they not only receive food and water, but also counselling, life skills and the opportunity to go back to school.”
The press release explained that UNICEF has chartered flights and delivered truckloads of water and sanitation, education and health supplies to support the children and maintained a 10-person staff on the ground to oversee the release and reintegration programme.
Nonetheless, it added, the costs involved in operating a successful release and reintegration initiative were onerous and the agency would require further funding and assistance.
UNICEF, in fact, estimates the costs for the release and reintegration of each child at $2,330 for a two-year period. Although some funding has been forthcoming, the agency is appealing for an additional $13 million.
References
- ^ UNICEF (www.unicef.org)
- ^ press release (www.unicef.org)
Source http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50061
Newer articles:
- South Sudan extends President Kiir's term for two years - 14/02/2015 06:13
- South Sudan cabinet postpones vote, extends president's term - 13/02/2015 15:50
- Uprooted South Sudanese fear the call to return home - 13/02/2015 14:11
- On World Radio Day, how one woman in South Sudan found her voice on air - 13/02/2015 13:58
- The price of war in South Sudan - 13/02/2015 00:32
Older news items
- Without pressure, business as usual for South Sudan's "bush" leaders - 11/02/2015 10:53
- War-torn South Sudan cracks down on media: rights group - 11/02/2015 09:33
- Fighting erupts in two South Sudan states days after latest truce - 11/02/2015 07:05
- Shelling in South Sudan oil town - 10/02/2015 10:01
- 2.5 million on brink of famine in South Sudan: UN - 09/02/2015 16:03
Latest news items (all categories):
- South Sudan’s ‘Game Of Thrones’ Continues – Analysis - 01/12/2024 17:47
- South Sudan secured over 282 150 doses of oral cholera vaccine to contain the cholera outbreak - 01/12/2024 17:43
- The idea of one nation and one people is a distortion of our reality!!! - 29/11/2024 12:54
- In South Sudan with aid boss John Rynne: 'The maps drawn in colonial times are starting to erode' - 29/11/2024 12:47
- 'They have nothing': Aid workers struggle to save lives at edge of war-torn Sudan - 29/11/2024 12:36
Random articles (all categories):
- South Sudan rebel chief urges armed resistance to Juba government - 24/09/2016 15:22
- UPDATED: Clashes rock Sudan truce as top UN official arrives - 03/05/2023 05:05
- Sharing for survival: The management of the River Nile - 07/03/2021 00:53
- South Sudan: Juba Signs First Oil Deals Since Independence - 16/01/2012 12:52
- Mysterious death of Collo Young man in Juba - Abraham Jalyath Laa - 21/08/2015 16:53
Popular articles:
- Who is the darkest person in the world, according to Guinness World Record? - 25/10/2022 02:34 - Read 58297 times
- No oil in troubled waters - 25/03/2014 15:02 - Read 22212 times
- School exam results in South Sudan show decline - 01/04/2012 17:58 - Read 21350 times
- NDSU student from South Sudan receives scholarship - In-Forum - 29/09/2012 01:44 - Read 18861 times
- Top 10 weakest currency exchange rates in Africa in 2023 - 19/07/2023 00:24 - Read 17966 times