19 July 2012 - Seeking to assist orphans and vulnerable children in the Unity State capital Bentiu, the state government launched a survey today to assess their plight.

Conducted by the Ministry of Gender and Child Welfare (MoGCW) in collaboration with UNMISS and UNICEF, the effort aims to collate basic facts about 90 street and out-of-school children in Bentiu and neighbouring Rubkona.

"Our objective here is to identify the children on streets and causes for being there," Director for Child Welfare Michael Ker Lat said at the launch. "This will enable the ministry to develop, plan and implement well-coordinated programmes to withdraw the children from the streets."

The survey would also guide requests to the government and donors, the director added.

Child Protection Officer James Gatgong Lam said UNMISS and other child protection groups were giving technical and logistical support, and monitoring the exercise. "Children are future of any state or country. Their welfare is important."

As part of the UNMISS mandate, the Child Protection Unit assists with protective environments for children.

Children interviewed directly after the launch said they were on the streets due to a lack of food and education from their parents.

The survey comes five days after a three-day state government workshop on juvenile justice for prison staff, police and social workers.