Christians and Muslims in South Sudan have been urged to support street children during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Veronica Juan, the chairperson of Central Equatoria Women Union Council, said that providing for the needs of street children, Christians, and Muslims would supplement the government’s efforts in addressing the menace of street children in Juba City.
Speaking to journalists in Juba on Wednesday, Juan who wished the Muslim faithful a happy Eid Al Fitr, called for collective efforts among religious groups to solve the problem of street children. She said the number of street children had increased in the city and required the urgent attention of all stakeholders.
Juan observed that the majority of the children on the streets have resorted to the consumption of alcohol and other harmful drugs.
“Muslims, I encourage you that whenever you gather with your children, you also gather with those street kids. These kids are good to be both Christians and Muslims; above all, they’re good citizens,” she said. “I urge you to meet with the Central Equatoria State governor to start a process of supporting the kids. Let these children be gathered in one place because they are good even for us in the families. We need these children. This morning when we were coming, we met three kids completely drunk and sleeping along the road.”
Juan said she was shocked seeing the kids in miserable conditions raising questions on how best their plight can be addressed and further asked the Muslims to use the Eid al-Fitr season to help the kids.
“When I saw these kids, my tears rolled down. How can we help them? The government is telling us to raise awareness to see how these kids can be gathered,” she stated. “So, today as we are in this celebration, our Muslim people, I want to say this is a responsibility and because you love good, you can as well do good things to these children.”