Sunday Akok Atilio had, for more than five years, failed to trace her parents due to the civil war in South Sudan.

The 16-year-old girl neither saw her parents nor even talked to them.

“My name is Sunday Akok, I am 16 years old. We separated during the crisis. When our relative died in Yei, our mother took the body to Torit, but she could not come back due to insecurity. We lived alone,” Akok narrated.

“I am happy because I am able to see them. I could not imagine I will ever see them again, but now I am happy to see them,” she added.

Akok was one of the two girls who were flown from Yei River State to Torit town to unite with their parents on Wednesday.

Akok’s mother, Monica Nyimach thanked the Catholic relief service organization (CARITAS) for searching and bringing back her children.

“I was even thinking whether these children were alive or dead. Now that they have come, I will live with them in a good way,” she said.

Last week, CARITAS reunited three children with their parents in Torit.

William Okot De Tobby, the Executive Director of CARITAS in Torit, advised family members to always think of developing their children.

He said the children need better education, health and proper care.

“The rest is now yours, how these children will grow, how they will eat and be treated in case of sickness is important because these are children of the country,” said Okot.

“Stop the past and begin to think of their development,” he added.