15 August 2012 – The UNMISS Corrections Advisory Section (CAS) today donated a variety of food and non-food items to female inmates and their children in three prisons in Warrap State.

Inmates in Kuajok Central State, Turalei and Gogrial West prisons received toiletries, sugar, biscuits, baby food, blankets and other goods that were given by CAS in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

South Sudanese prison regulations allow children up to the age of two to live with their incarcerated mothers.

Prison officials noted that limited mosquito nets, water sanitation and hygiene facilities and insufficient access to health care services are among the major challenges facing female inmates. The mothers also lack utensils to feed their infants.

UNMISS through its Rule of Law and Security Institutions Support Office is mandated to strengthen the justice system through the improvement of prison conditions and the treatment of vulnerable groups.

Those vulnerable groups inside South Sudanese prisons include women, infants accompanying them, juvenile prisoners, the mentally ill and the elderly.

Warrap State Director of Prisons Maj. Gen. Samir Khamis Suleiman thanked the mission for its support.

CAS plans to visit prisons in the counties of Tonj East and Tonj South to donate similar items by the end of August.