Displaced South Sudanese children learn under undesirable conditions

Close to 1000 South Sudanese children, displaced by the recent conflict in the country are receiving basic education with the help of volunteer teachers and the United Nations children’s agency, UNICEF.

Operating form makeshifts classrooms,under trees or in the open as schools were destroyed during the politically- motivated fighting. The teachers say they are hell-bent on teaching these children against all odds.

“We have now a good number of pupils, but they don’t benefit from those materials that are being brought. So we are looking forward and asking UNICEF and other education funders to provide us with some learning material, and also to construct a school so that the children may learn,” said William deputy head teacher

An estimated 400,000 children have been forced out of school since 2013 according to UNICEF, and with social structures breaking down children are also becoming vulnerable to violence and to sexual abuse and exploitation.

“We fear for our lives; that is why we are here for UN protection. Many friends of ours who did not come here maybe they have been killed or raped,” one young girl said.

African leaders have called for the deployment of a regional protection force to separate South Sudan’s warring parties.

Reuters