Uganda: Day of the African Child as 50,000 South Sudanese Children Face Death
By Staff Writer
Ugandan government has been urged to invest in the lives and future of it’s children for a brighter country as it joins African countries in marking the Day of African Child, Monday June 16.
Empower a Child Uganda, an international children’s organization, says many children across the country have been deprived of their life essentials such as education, nutrition, Health, water, shelter, protection among other needs that children require for growth.
“Issues like quality education, poverty, child labour, unending cases of defilement, rape are continuing to deprive our children of their rights and welfare as a child which is embedded in Article 11 of the African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child,” said Benon Katumwa the operations manager Empower a Child.
Child rights activists condemned what they called continued abusive acts on children who have been deprived of their human dignity, urging government to double its efforts in investing in the lives of Ugandan children.
Katumwa said when a child’s body has been abused, it doesn’t only affect her physical nature but this also affects her spiritual and emotional nature.
Suzan Thomas, the Empower a Child US board member urged the government to revise its Universal primary education program to ensure a firm educational foundation for the young stars.
Thomas also appealed to different institutions both private and public to change the lives of children in their communities by ensuring that they attain an education.
“We would like to reach out to thousands of children in Uganda and Africa at large, give them an opportunity to go to school and get a quality education but we need much more of nationals taking charge of their communities,” said Thomas.
A recent survey by ministry of gender labour and social development, in conjunction with UNICEF, indicated that around 3.7million children below five years of age live in poverty and also 2.2 million children below five years suffer from stunting.
Meanwhile more than 50,000 children in South Sudan face death from disease and hunger, the United Nations warned Saturday June 14 as it requested well wishers for over a billion dollars to support those hit by six months of civil war.
War in the world youngest state has already killed thousands and forced more than 1.5 million people from their homes, and aid agencies warn of the risk of famine should fighting continue.
UN aid chief for South Sudan Toby Lanzer said the consequences could be dire as 50,000 children could die only this year if they do not get help, at the launch of a plan to support 3.8 million people "hit by hunger, violence and disease."
"Even if the cessation of hostilities holds... fighting and displacement has already shattered the lives of millions of people," Lanzer said, adding that while $740 million (547 million €) has been offered, the aid agencies face a shortfall of over $1 billion (739 million €).
Lanzer said that the rains have set in, conditions in South Sudan are deteriorating by the day: people are literally living in mud.
"Cholera has broken out, malaria is rampant and many children are malnourished. Millions of people need emergency healthcare, food, clean water, proper sanitation and shelter to make it through the year."
Months of dragging peace talks in Ethiopia have made little progress, so far costing over 17 million dollars (12 million €).
Over 94,000 civilians are still sheltering inside hugely overcrowded UN bases, too frightened to leave the protection of the razor wire fence for fear of attack.
"The immediate goals of the aid operation are to save lives and prevent a famine," the UN appeal released Saturday read.
"With many communities unable to farm or tend properly to their cattle, the risk of famine looms large. In some particularly hard-to-reach areas of the country, people are already starving."