Driven out of his home in 2014, Francis Abraham Tipo was just eleven years old at the time. With intense fighting in Upper Nile State where Kodok, a county where Tipo lived, was severely affected and the young Tipo ran for his life in the Sudan with his relatives while leaving his mother and father home. However, the young Tipo later learnt that his parents died. They were both killed in the war.
The young Tipo was in the care of her grandmother in the refugee’s camp in the Sudan, but life became unbearable, as he and his old care take had return to their home at Ocuc in Kodok in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State.
Francis’ grandmother receiving cash on his behalf- Photo courtesy WOCO Kodok IDPs camp
For Francis Abraham Tipo and his grandmother, they were at the wrong side of life, hope faded away, and they were left at the mercy God as they lacked the most basic requirements of life. The new family faced myriad problem ranging from lack of food, school fees, school requirements, suffered from psychological issues as it was hard for him to come to term with the death of his parents, inadequate clothing as there was no sources of income to the new family.
.jpeg "Francis and his relative in front of his shop- Photo courtesy WOCO Kodok IDPs camp")
Francis and his relative in front of his shop- Photo courtesy WOCO Kodok IDPs camp
Thanks to WOCO who eventually intervene in the life of the family after an assessment of their situations. The Child was enrolled at the CFS established by WOCO in Kodok where he learnt life-skills activities to build up his life and to recover from psychosocial experiences he was facing after losing his parents.
WOCO also provided among other things cash transfer to the family for income generating activities, shelter materials, clothes and shoes.
With the support provided to the family, there is a greater change in the life of the young Tipo who has now turned 17 years old, and his grandmother is able now to generate some income and provide for the need of the family.
According to Mercy Corps, since the conflict began, one in three people in South Sudan have been displaced. More than four million citizens have been forced to flee their homes. Around 2.3 million people have escaped to neighboring countries in search of safety; 1.8 million are trapped inside the country and tens of thousands have been killed.