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Just a child herself, she’s been forced into the role of raising her siblings.
They had to leave their home in South Sudan due to war and floods. When in Rhino Refugee Camp in northern Uganda, her Mother abandoned Nyabuom and her siblings, returning to South Sudan to look for another child. That was over a year ago.
Nyabuom’s little siblings are visibly malnourished. Her worst nightmare is how to save them from hunger amongst the aid cuts.
‘I would perhaps not mind the responsibility of keeping my siblings, but when there’s no food, it becomes very difficult.’ – Nyabuom.
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Aid cuts risk at least 14 million deaths by 2030. 1 in 3 of these deaths will be children under the age of 5*.
A report by local radio station Mama FM indicates that child-headed families among South Sudanese refugees are mostly the result of parental death, abandonment, or separation.
‘Child-headed families are particularly vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and various forms of harm, including child labour, teenage pregnancy, and potential recruitment into armed groups,’ the report by Cinderella Ayebare says.
Stories like that of Nyabuom are the reason why MAF is motivated to provide more flights, if possible, to help save many more abandoned children.
Will you hear her cry for help? Will you hear the cries of the other 50,000 forgotten children in Uganda?
By donating today, you could enable more vital flights to support abandoned children, like Nyabuom, and help to bring a lifeline to those most in need.
Since the aid cuts at the beginning of 2025, people’s lifelines have dried up. The severe lack of food, clean water, and aid has left almost 2 million families starving and without hope.
Ruth Jack, Director of Africa Programmes MAF, says:
‘For the first time, we are beginning to see child-led households, because parental figures have either died or left their children in search of food or as a final chance to personally survive.
‘Young children are emaciated, and their growth is stunted. Older children are turning to survival sex and prostitution. There is violence, crime and real hunger. People are fighting over food and water – and it is spilling over beyond refugee settlements into host communities.
‘It will have a life-long impact on these kids, if they survive at all. All of these issues are very difficult for people to hear – so often, they aren’t talked about.’
MAF plays a central role in a network of humanitarian agencies, working tirelessly with limited resources. MAF provides vital logistics and practical solutions to help stretch what’s available even further. Many of MAF’s flights carry senior aid workers, donors, UN representatives, and diplomatic personnel, allowing them to quickly reach affected areas and coordinate relief efforts – often saving hours of travel by road. The vast majority of MAF’s flights directly support humanitarian missions.
By donating today, you could enable more vital flights to support abandoned children, like Nyabuom, and help to bring a lifeline to those most in need.
With every £1 donated, we ensure the maximum impact.
A minimum of 80p goes towards the cost of the gift and its delivery
A maximum of 20p helps fund the growth of our donor community, which is vital for expanding our reach and long-term support for communities
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator. For over 75 years we have been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts. We enable more than 1,500 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development. Our pilots and personnel deliver relief workers, doctors, pastors, school books, food, medicines - everything that can only be safely and speedily delivered by air. Our faithful supporters give and pray to make this all possible.
© 2025 / MAF UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1064598) and Scotland (SC039107)
