A newly-established national non-governmental organization in the capital Juba has offered to clothe at least 750 street children a head of Christmas celebration.

Mama Salwa Foundation for Street Child Care and Rehabilitation (MSFSCR), established to advocate for child rights, made the distribution during its inauguration last week at Juba One Boys Primary school.

Shaul Bakuony Monytuil, MSFSCR’s Deputy Executive Director says the organization has registered more than 6000 street children and orphans who need urgent support.

“Thousands are yet to be assessed and provided urgent support. That is why we have come up to complement efforts of other child-led national and international organizations in South Sudan,” Bakuony said.

Bakuony said the surge in street children in Juba and other parts of the country was a result of war, exacerbated by the current economic crisis, forcing many children to look for ways of survival and the only option to them was to go on the streets and beg for food. 

“Most of these children have opted to go on street not because they do not have parents but because of economic situation that has made their parents and caretakers unable to provide food to them,” he added.

Salwa Bakuony, Founder and Executive Director of MSFSCR said she could not watch street children, on whom the future of South Sudan relies, suffering.

“Despite the dire economic situation we are going through in the country and I know that me alone cannot do it but together as South Sudanese and well-wishers, I believe something can be done to rescue them.

 “Children are the future of the nation and we need to invest in them. So, if we have to have better future, it depends on children more than natural resources,” Salwa said.

MSFSCR is a six-month old non-profit, non-governmental organization with the primary aim of alleviating suffering of parentless children through advocating for their rights.

The organization is so far accommodating and taking care of more than 150 children in Gudele, according to Bakuon.

Salwa said they were planning to bring more if the organization gets support, appealing to the government and organizations in the country to support MSFSCR to enable the organization achieve its objectives.

“What we have done so far is with the support of members of MSFSCR and I would like to appeal for more support to enable us to help our children who are suffering on the streets of Juba and across South Sudan,” Salwa said.