Ten children rescued from abductors in Jonglei, to be airlifted to Greater Pibor

BOR – Authorities in South Sudan’s Jonglei State have said that they have recovered at least ten children from their abductors in the state’s Uror County.

The children, abducted earlier this year by the White Army, are now in the care of Save the Children, awaiting reunification with their families in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA).

Speaking to Sudans Post today, Jonglei State information minister Elizabeth Jock confirmed the children’s rescue and handover to Save the Children in Yuai, Uror County.

“There are children recovered from Yuai in Uror county. They are children that some of White Army have been abducting this year, 2023 and the government of Jonglei State took a decision to collect and send them back to their parents,” she said.

The senior government official further said that Save the Children is preparing for the children’s reunification with their parents in the GPAA.

“Now Save the Children is waiting for the flight for these children to be taken to Greater Pibor Administrative Area. The children are currently in Uror county headquarters in the hands of Save the Children,” she said.

While the breakdown of boys and girls among the ten children remains undisclosed, Jock emphasized the urgency of their reunification, even considering the approaching Christmas season.

“As we all know, we are approaching Christmas season, I may not say that the children will go this week, or I may not say that they will celebrate the new year here, but the plan remains with Save the Children. For us the government we did our part,” she said.

The minister further called on the governments in Jonglei and Greater Pibor Administrative Area to peacefully co-exist and respect human rights.

“Child rights are more important; you cannot be going as the criminal and you go and abduct someone’s child and sell the child away with cattle that is totally wrong,” she said.

“You are enemy of the people of South Sudan what I can assure them is that let them stay away from these children,” she said.