UNMISS Peacekeepers Contribute to the Care of Orphans
Channel: UNMISS VIDEOS
Date: 2018-11-08

These children are casualties of war. Their parents have been killed during the conflict in South Sudan or they are so poverty-stricken that they simply can’t care for them.

Fifty orphans live at this facility in the capital city, Juba. They range in age from just a few months to 19 years old. Some have lived at the center for a decade.

These children are casualties of war. Their parents have been killed during the conflict in South Sudan or they are so poverty-stricken that they simply can’t care for them.

Fifty orphans live at this facility in the capital city, Juba. They range in age from just a few months to 19 years old. Some have lived at the center for a decade.

The orphanage is supported by the Government, but also relies heavily on charitable donations. While there is plenty of love and affection for the children, the resources available to support them are limited.

Peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in South Sudan are making a contribution by visiting regularly and providing support where they can.

On a Saturday morning, more than 70 UNMISS personnel gather at the center to do some desperately needed spring-cleaning. The children join in as part of a process to educate them about the need to be vigilant about hygiene.

Furniture is removed from the buildings and washed clean. Floors are swept and dirt scrubbed from the walls. What little bedding the children have is washed and aired in the hot sun. Bathrooms are scrubbed clean and disinfected to reduce the risk of waterborne disease. Overgrown weeds are cut back to make it safer for the children and to enable vegetables to be grown.  


The children are eager to help although they are a little more excited about sharing some lunch and playtime with the peacekeepers during a break. 

The orphanage operators are grateful for the support and the shared commitment to helping the children reach their full potential. The orphanage also looks to the children’s future by trying to trace their extended families in the hope of reuniting them. This is a huge challenge given that a third of the 12 million South Sudanese population is displaced either internally or in neighbouring countries. 


For all those caring for the kids, it is a chance to help them reconnect with their communities and access the opportunities they need to realize their dreams.