A UNFPA good will ambassador has revealed that the situation of children and mothers in South Sudan is very appalling and in need of immediate attention.
Catarina Furtado’s evaluation comes after a one-week long visit to Juba to see firsthand the condition of children and women in the new nation and report for the Portuguese public television.Speaking to CRN News, Ms. Furtado said Juba’s hospitals that cater for children and women lack almost everything.
She added that South Sudan still needs humanitarian, emergency and development aid.
Ms. Furtado said Juba’s female street children are very vulnerable to rape and abuse.
She cited the case of a six-year old girl who was raped after she was persuaded with a sweet.
The UNFPA good will ambassador called on the government to pay more attention to the street children and their welfare.
Ms Furtado pledged to use her status as a celebrity to help donors and well-wishers to support people in need in South Sudan so that viewers can reach out to assist the new nation.
During her stay in Juba, Ms. Furtado visited the Confident Children out of Conflict, an NGO that looks after street children, Juba Teaching Hospital and Al-Sabha Children’s Hospital.
She also interviewed two Portuguese missionaries working in South Sudan.
The UNFPA good will ambassador is a TV presenter, journalist and actress.
She travels worldwide reporting on humanitarian situations and telling stories of people who dedicate themselves to good causes.