Statement: Save the Children Calls for Protection of Children Affected by South Sudan Conflict
WESTPORT, Conn. (February 19, 2014) — Save the Children is concerned about the fate of more than 21,000 people trapped inside a United Nations base in
Malakal, South Sudan, as renewed fighting between government and opposition-led forces rages around them. The renewed
fighting, which violates a ceasefire agreed on Jan. 23. 2014, is placing even more children at risk of death, injury,
displacement and separation from their parents.
Since the conflict began just more than two months ago, 850,000 people have been forced from their homes and thousands,
including children, have been killed. Save the Children’s staff in Bor reported last week that a large number of those
being buried in mass graves were children. We are extremely worried that further violence in and around Malakal will
place the lives of more children in danger.
Since the conflict began, Save the Children has registered more than 1,250 separated and missing children, many of whom
lost their parents in the fighting. A continuation of violence means that this number will rise and that some children
will be displaced and separated for a second or third time.
Save the Children calls on all parties to abide by the commitments under the ceasefire agreement and to ensure the
protection and care of children who have been affected in this conflict.
ENDS