UNMISS Human Rights team gives newborn twins a better chance at life
Just four months ago, Nancy Poni was sheltering under a tree with her newborn twins from the scorching sun and the violent attacks by cattle rustlers going on around her.
Her village of Karpeto, in the Central Equatorias region of South Sudan, was under constant attack from raiders looting, raping and killing people as well as burning their homes and stealing their cattle. She had already seen three of her neighbours killed and was terrified for the safety of her family, including her tiny twin girls.
A team of peacekeepers, including human rights officers, serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) was patrolling the area to help protect civilians and support those who had fled their homes when they noticed the young mother.
“When we saw that her daughters were extremely small and did not look well at all, we decided to take them to Juba as there were no health facilities in the area,” said Irantzu Pinillos, an UNMISS Human Rights Officer.
The officer, along with her colleague Anthony Sebur, transported Nancy, her husband, three-year old daughter and newborn twins to Juba where they now live happily with relatives on the outskirts of the capital. During their first medical check, one of the twin girls was found to be suffering from malaria so Nancy is grateful for the help they received.
“There is nothing I can consider to be of more value than the safety of my children from heavy rains, the scorching sun and the ongoing cattle raids in my village. These children would have long died and been forgotten if we hadn’t had help,” said Nancy Poni. “
The human rights officers who provided assistance are continuing to support the young family.
“We are trying to share the pain someone is going through by contributing something, however little it might be,” said Anthony Sebur.
While Nancy is happy in her temporary home, she is longing for peace so that she can return to her village to join her extended family in working the land and raising her children.