Citizens in Juba are calling upon the government to intervene and find a permanent solution to the growing number of kids living in the capital’s streets before they become a threat to security.
Serric Ouma, a trader in Konyokonyo, told CRN News that humanitarian groups, the government and parents should join hand together and build homes to welcome street children before they become a source of insecurity.Mogga Daniel blamed irresponsible parents who send children to the streets to beg for food as the main cause for the spiralling number of street kids.
James Deng Alor said the government should tackle the issue of street children since most parents have failed to honour their duties towards their sons and daughters.
He added that most street children became wild and difficult to control.
Street children are a common sight in cities and towns in South Sudan. However, the question of who is responsible for the homeless children still remains unanswered.
The national minister of gender, child and social welfare, Agnes Lasuba, said over the phone that her office dos not have enough money to care for the street children.
She added that she and her team were working out some plans to take care of the street children.
At the beginning of the month, Ms. Lasuba announced she wanted to bring home some 2,000 South Sudanese children stranded in Khartoum’s streets with the assistance of UNICEF, UNMISS and NPA, the Norwegian People’s Aid before the end of the year.
Way stations to welcome the children are being prepared in Juba, Wau and Malakal to welcome the kids.