One of the sisters with a refugee child. This is the kind of warmth and love Nyeko found when he arrived in Nzara.The Combini Sisters in Nzara, South Sudan, work with refugees from surrounding countries, especially Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic. Though there are several conflicts in the area, the refugees running away from the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) are currently the most prominent.

The Sisters give us regular updates. We'd like to share one of their latest stories with you, it is a story about a little boy named Nyeko. The Sisters write:

"At the beginning of December [2009] the soldiers [from the Ugandan army, stationed in Sudan to hunt down the LRA] asked us if we had clothes for a child of about one year old collected in Congo after fighting with the Lord Resistance Army.

This request was not new to us. In fact, when someone abducted by the LRA is able to escape and asks for protection of the Sudanese or Ugandan soldiers, they are taken to the army’s Head Quarters in Nzara for protection, identification and to be questioned. The soldiers ask for our cooperation with clothes and other items; help that we willingly give.

The unusual thing this time was that the child was on his own. We were surprised and happy when they took him to our house so that we could see him. The child was watching us at first. He then allowed us peacefully to hold him in turn in our arms. At last he decided to give us a gift, let us say a blessing, as we found ourselves all wet! The emotion to meet six women at the same time was too great.

We asked how and where they got this child, but no one knew his exact story. We were told that during the fighting between soldiers and LRA, some LRA captives were trying to escape. Some succeeded, while some were killed.

The child was found among dead people, after a battle. He was alone.  It seems that the parents were Ugandans abducted by the LRA: the father then died and the mother was given as a wife to a rebel. The child was probably cared for by other captives. He was given an Acholi name: “Nyeko”.

Nyeko is now in Uganda and the proper authorities are trying to find his relatives. If not, some Ugandan soldiers expressed the desire to adopt him.

Nyeko, your first year of life was a difficult one. You suffered cold and hunger in the forest, you saw with your innocent eyes people killed, cut into pieces. You grew among the noise of guns, cries, shouting. You were looked after by different unknown people. You gave us the precious gift of your smile, you let us happily cuddle and kiss you. You were never satisfied when being fed. You are giving us the strength and the courage to keep on striving for peace. You will be always in our hearts."