Thousands of kids lost parents in S Sudan fighting

MINKAMAN, South Sudan (AP) — When the shooting began, Ajing Abiik and his two younger brothers ran for their lives. The shy 12-year-old with the serious expression is now among 90,000 people in one of South Sudan's largest camps of people who have been displaced since war broke out in December.

Their father was a soldier and died in fighting months ago. Now the three boys don't know where their mother is — or even if she is still alive.

Abiik and his brothers are far from alone. Thousands of other children in South Sudan have been separated from their families when the fled cities and villages in panic as indiscriminate gunfire cut down soldiers and civilians alike. The fighting in the world's newest country has left many of its youngest citizens either orphans or separated from their parents, increasing their vulnerability to sickness, malnutrition and recruitment by warring groups as child soldiers.

Some of the worst violence was in Jonglei state, where the battle for the city of Bor left thousands dead.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/thousands-kids-lost-parents-s-sudan-fighting