27 January 2015 - UNICEF and partners had secured the release of approximately 3,000 children from the South Sudan Democratic Army (SSDA) Cobra Faction led by David Yau Yau, the UN children’s organization announced in a media note today.

Describing it as “one of the largest ever demobilizations of children,” UNICEF revealed that the first group of 280 children were released today in Gumuruk, Jonglei State.

The statement added that further phased releases of the other children will take place over the coming month.

“The children range in age from 11 to 17 years old,” said the media note. “Some have been fighting for up to four years and many have never attended school.”

The children surrendered their weapons and uniforms in a ceremony overseen by the South Sudan National Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission and the Cobra Faction and supported by UNICEF.

“These children have been forced to do and see things no child should ever experience,” said UNICEF South Sudan Representative Jonathan Veitch. “The release of thousands of children requires a massive response to provide the support and protection these children need to begin rebuilding their lives.”

The children released from the Cobra Faction are being supported with basic health care and protection services and necessities such as food, water and clothing to help them get ready to return to their families.

“Counseling and other psychological support programmes are urgently being established,” the statement said. “The children will soon have access to education and skills training programmes.”

It however described UNICEF’s efforts to trace and reunify the children with their families, as a “daunting task”, noting that more than one million children have either been displaced internally or fled to neighbouring countries since fighting broke out in December 2013.

The statement added that in the last year, 12,000 children, mostly boys, have been recruited and used as soldiers by armed forces and groups in South Sudan as a whole.

“The successful reintegration of these children back into their communities depends on a timely, coordinated response to meet their immediate and long-term needs. These programmes require significant resources,” said Mr. Veitch.

According to the media note, UNICEF estimates the costs for the release and reintegration of each child is approximately $2,330 for 24 months.

It revealed that so far UNICEF has received 1.6 million Euros from the IKEA Foundation as a contribution to funding for the release and reintegration programme.

The children’s organisation is appealing for an additional $10 million in support.