A total of 145 children were released today by the Cobra Faction and opposition forces.  The children were handed over to the National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission.

The handover, in Pibor, was witnessed by UNICEF’s Country Representative in South Sudan, Mahimbo Mdoe, and several other diplomats.

Mdoe said this is the largest number of children freed since 2015, when 1,775 children were released in the Greater Pibor Administrative Area.

The UNICEF hopes that today’s release will be followed by many others so that the 16,000 children that are still in the armed forces and armed groups will be able to return to their families.

“Over the coming months all children, upon release, will receive counselling and psychosocial support. They will be placed in an interim care centre, until their families can be traced,” said Mdoe.

Following their reunification, the children’s families will be provided with three months worth of food assistance as a take-home package as well as livestock to supplement household income during the reintegration process.

“Children in South Sudan need safety, protection and opportunities,” said Mdoe. “Our priority is to get them into school and to provide services to communities so the children are able to see a more promising future.

During their release from the Cobra Faction and the SPLA in Opposition, the children were formally disarmed and provided with civilian clothing.

Medical screenings were carried out and the children were registered for the reintegration programme.

“With the ongoing fighting across the country the UNICEF continues to receive reports about the recruitment of children in Unity, Jonglei and other states.

UNICEF has urged all parties to abide by international law, to end recruitment and to release children currently serving in their ranks.

UNICEF estimates that 16,000 children have been recruited by armed forces and armed groups in South Sudan since the onset of fighting in December of 2013.  More than 800 children are estimated to have been recruited since the beginning of 2016.