Photo essay

Unaccompanied and separated children from South Sudan

For every displaced child, a fair chance

UNICEF Uganda
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Rojas
30 March 2018

Civil unrest, violence, conflict and insecurity has forced over 1.2 million people out of South Sudan. About 82 per cent of them are women and children. Among them, are unaccompanied and separated children.

Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Nakibuuka
Despite the reduction in the new arrivals, a few men, women and children still cross to Uganda, in search for peace and better living conditions for their families.
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Nakibuuka
Children of various ages, some with guardians, others without, are seen at the reception centres. They look tired, hungry and thirsty after long days of travel with little or nothing to eat and drink.
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Rojas
Among them is Jeremiah Bernard, a 16 year old teenager who lost his father during the war. “My father was a soldier and he died in the war.”

"I have not heard from my family. I don’t know if they are dead or alive. My prayer is they are not among the very many dead bodies that we saw on the way,"

Jeremiah (names changed)
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Rojas
Jeremiah who was staying with his Auntie in the village was separated from his mother and siblings. He escaped with his Auntie (sister of the mother) and arrived in Uganda on 1 November after a horrendous six-day journey.
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Rojas
I feel uncertain about my future now that I have no parents. Back home, Bernard was a primary four pupil at Adventist Primary school. His best subject was mathematics and he aspires to be a doctor.

"However, I feel safe in Uganda because there are no gun shots. The peace here is helping me forget my worries slowly."

Bernard
Unaccompanied and separated children
UNICEF Uganda/2017/Nakibuuka
A sign post hangs outside a UNICEF-supported Child Friendly Space where children like Bernard access counselling and psychosocial support services that support their healing. They also have access to various games that enable them interact with each other. UNICEF and partners with timely funding from Ukaid and United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (UN CERF), identify unaccompanied and separated children from South Sudan and provides them with appropriate family care and support services.

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Refugee and migrant children
Uganda

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