More than 80 children under the care of the SOS villages in Juba, have been relocated to a safe compound, following the fighting in Juba last week, that saw the looting of the SOS village in Juba town.
A statement by Timothy SPENCE, emergency communications advisor, SOS Children’s Villages International, said the children were relocated last week, together with 31 caretakers.
Dereje Wordofa, International Director for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region, SOS Children’s Villages International, said the organization is working to restore some normality to the lives of the children and their caretakers.
“They have food, drinking water and a safe place to stay. They have also received toys, blankets and mosquito nets thanks to humanitarian agencies. Our priority is to help our children and young people to heal from the trauma they have experienced, and to resume their education. We intend to restore the SOS Children’s Village in Juba to a child-friendly home.”
Wordofa said that SOS village international is reaching out to help reunite separated children with their parents or guardians. He said a plan is being worked out to provide child friendly spaces and safeguarding programmes for vulnerable children.”
“As you may know, the children and staff of our village in Malakal were evacuated in February 2014 and were relocated to temporary facilities in Juba in August 2014,” said Spence in an email to Radio Miraya.
The SOS Children’s Village, youth facility, and family support programme were opened in Juba in early 2015.