22 March 2013 - Answering a call from local authorities to save the lives of children and pregnant mothers, 16 UNMISS Kenyan peacekeepers donated blood today to Aweil Civil Hospital in Northern Bahr El-Ghazal State.

Speaking to Radio Miraya at the hospital, laboratory specialist Ursula Schlosser stressed the facility's desperate need for blood.

"We have ... many children with low hemoglobin because of malnutrition (or) malaria ... (and) also malnourished adults," Ms. Schlosser said. "Blood donating helps ... the children in our hospital. It helps many people. It save lives."

Kenyan Battalion Commander Shekh Laton Muhamud urged members of the local community to also donate blood.

"We know there is a serious need for blood," Commander Muhamud said. "Blood donation is not a problem. Anybody can donate blood as long as ... the doctor feels that you are fit enough."

Some 25 Kenyan soldiers donated blood to the same hospital in January.