Caring for South Sudan’s generation of traumatised children

For the past two weeks, Sandy has slept on the dirty floor of a small and stuffy tent, squeezed in tightly with 54 other women and girls and countless night-biting mosquitoes.

Things are looking up.聽For now at least, Sandy has company and a canvas cover.

国产视频淚 feel much safer here in the tent,国产视频� she said of her new home in a United Nations-protected site.

Education in South Sudan

• 72% of children are out of school at primary level – the highest rate in the world
• 76% of school-age girls are not in education
• One in three schools have been attacked by armed forces

With her buzzed haircut and mature mien, 14-year-old Sandy is stern faced and slow to smile.聽She is recovering from war trauma.

• Civil war and lack of food wreck education in South Sudan
• Toxic stress spells disaster for conflict children

It all began in 2013 when she had to flee an attack on her village that left her father dead. Her mother died soon afterwards of disease, hunger and exhaustion.

Ever since, after making the 100-mile trek from Yei in the country国产视频檚 west to the capital Juba – alone and afraid throughout – Sandy has been sleeping under market stalls, exposed to the elements and in danger of assault.

Many of the other girls who slept under makeshift stalls ended up in brothels. Sandy was lucky enough to make it to the relative safety of one of Juba国产视频檚 protected civilian sites (PoCs).

The UN children’s arm UNICEF estimates that she is one of 900,000 children in South Sudan who need psychological help, with at least 150,000 of them living in camps.

These are children who have witnessed killings, abductions and sexual violence since South Sudan plunged into civil war in 2013 – but there are few experts to guide their recovery in what is the world’s youngest country.

国产视频淪outh Sudan has a generation of traumatised children but there aren国产视频檛 enough therapists 国产视频� neither in Juba, nor in remote local communities,国产视频� explained Duop Dak, one of the country国产视频檚 few practising South Sudanese psychologists.

国产视频淐apacity here is low. There are no rehabilitation centres and people who develop mental disorders due to trauma can end up in prison,国产视频� he added.

It is just six years since South Sudan gained independence, though it has yet to win either peace or stability.

Many of Dak’s colleagues have left the world of counselling to work with non-profits or the government, both of which offer better salaries and more hope in the face of the country’s rampant hyperinflation, fuel shortages and harsh beginnings.

Instead, a growing number of international organisations have taken to working with the traumatised children, hoping to prevent further repercussions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression or worse.

国产视频淒uring and after displacement, children go through extraordinary experiences that can traumatise them for the rest of their lives. Our work focuses on bringing their lives back to normalcy as quickly as possible,国产视频� said the UNHCR国产视频檚 protections officer Keiko Odashiro, who works with girls like Sandy.

Sandy took her first, faltering step towards healing when she registered at a child-friendly space in the camp, where she can play with her peers and get adult support.

国产视频淭raumatised children need to participate in activities that keep them busy and engaged,国产视频� explained Dak. 国产视频淧ositive reinforcement and play are crucial and it国产视频檚 often then that trauma patients open up about their past.国产视频�

Dak has seen children craft soldier dolls out of sticks and draw machine guns in the sand.

国产视频淚t国产视频檚 usually then that I ask about their past and what has triggered their drawings,国产视频� Dak told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

He thinks safe spaces such as this 国产视频� classrooms, a playground and a clutch of social workers and psychologists – are the best springboard to mental health for South Sudan国产视频檚 youngest war victims.

国产视频淚t国产视频檚 here where we identify vulnerable children and provide direct support to them. We take them in, integrate them into the group and explore their fears and past lives,国产视频� says Alice Abdallah of UNICEF, who sets up the safe havens.

With the country国产视频檚 peace agreement in limbo and violence continuing, children experience trauma on a daily basis.

Up to 100 unaccompanied minors 国产视频� most don国产视频檛 know if their parents are still alive 国产视频� cross the border into Uganda daily.

国产视频淭hese children need to gain resilience to survive, build confidence and restore hope for their brighter futures,国产视频� Odashiro told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Trauma is common in South Sudan and for a number of reasons.

Just an hour国产视频檚 drive from Sandy, in another UN camp of mud huts, sits five-year-old Dekanmo, a refugee from Ethiopia whose family fled ethnic cleansing in the country国产视频檚 Gambella region.

A month ago, her mother 国产视频� and sole surviving relative 国产视频� died in childbirth and Dekanmo has not spoken since.

Surrounded by playing children, she sits on the floor in her school uniform, her dark, hollow eyes fixed on the distance.

“We ensure that her basic needs – such as shelter, health and food – are met, and facilitate counselling for her growth and development,” explained Odashiro.

As to a future, Dekanmo’s road to recovery has yet to begin.聽