Nyamile Malual Jiech walked with her children for five days and nights through violent clashes to reach the safety of the United Nations protection site in Bentiu. Her husband was killed in the fierce clashes in the Unity region.

She described her horror journey to a high-level delegation of African Union and United Nations officials who have travelled from New York to the conflict zone to hear first-hand the challenges faced by the women of South Sudan.

“Women are being raped all the time and you will find that those who are raping women are always younger than the age of our children, so sometimes you find two or three men lining up against one lady,” said Nyamile Malual Jiech. “Those are the big challenges for us. We appreciate your visit and pray that you will bring us peace in the country.”

Her friend, Deborah Zhot Kier, lost a child in the conflict.

Despite the tragedy, she finally feels safe in the camp protected by UN peacekeepers and says that her hope now is for peace, so that her remaining children have the opportunity to go to school, find jobs, and achieve their dreams.

“I appreciate you coming to visit us here. Our plea is to please support our peace so that peace becomes a reality and we continue to enjoy our lives,” she said.

Clutching Deborah’s hand as she listened to her story in a dark, humid tukul in the protection camp was the Co-Chair of AU FemWise, Dr. Specioza Wandira Kazibwe. She reassured the women that the signing of a peace agreement and subsequent reduction in the conflict provided an opportunity to empower women to ensure they have a role to play in building peace in the country.