An activist in South Sudan’s Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has expressed concerns over the rising number of street children in the area.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj in Aweil town on Tuesday, John Gau Riek, the executive director for Lony Piu Charity Society described the conditions of street children in the state as worrying.

“Street children in the greater Northern Bahr el Ghazal are a problem in Aweil, Wanyjok, Nyamlel and Gokmachar markets,” he said.

Gau attributed the rise in the number of street children to poverty as well as the country’s civil war where many of them lost their parents.

The activist urged the state government and its partners to set up rehabilitation centers where children can access counseling services, free education, food and accommodation.

Gau, however, did not specify which action his civil society organization would take to address the problem.

Currently, authorities say there are over 1,000 street children with no access to food, healthcare services and accommodation.

Government officials were not immediately available to comment.