The ICRC's Sudan delegation last week flew
five children from Malakal, in Upper Nile state, to Pochalla, in Jonglei
state, where they were reunited with their families after three and a half
years of separation.
The children -- from the Anuak tribe
-- had been abducted in 1999 near Pochalla, an area held by the Sudanese
People's Liberation Movement (SPLM). In May 2000, they were found in Pibor
and placed with two foster families in Malakal, an area under government
control.
After tracing their parents, the ICRC flew the children, with the consent of all concerned, from Malakal to Khartoum on 12 January. The following morning, the children were flown to Lokichokio, Kenya and in the afternoon on to Pochalla.
One of the most painful aspects of any conflict is the fact that some families are dispersed by the fighting. This is the first time in many years that the ICRC has been allowed to reunite people with their loved ones across government/SPLM lines.
Further information: Yahia Alibi, ICRC Khartoum, tel. ++249 11 476 464