The chairperson of Southern Sudan War Disabled, Widows and Orphans Commission, Ben Robin Oduho, told participants that the presence of war and mines victims was a remind that South Sudan still suffers from war effects.
A war victim representative, Apollo Marial, told the crowd that gathered in Juba that he was a land mine survivor.
He said he stepped on a mine in 1994 in Morobo County where seven of his colleagues lost their lives and 14 others were wounded.
Mr. Marial added that the government of South Sudan should open centers all over the ten states for mine victims to get some training and provide assistance for them.
UN Mine Action Office Director, Nigel Forrestal, read UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s speech which highlighted the importance of mine clearing to protect lives in war affected areas.
The speech also highlighted that mine clearing activities will prevent unexploded weapons from causing harm to the communities, while creating jobs and transforming danger zones into productive lands.