A gift from god - John T. Pedersen Photography

2013

Bidi Bid refugee settlement in Yumbe district

More than a million South Sudanese have fled South Sudan for fear of their lives, crossing the border to neighboring Uganda.

The civil war broke out in 2013, and unrest continues despite a recently signed peace agreement.

Bidi Bidi has grown into one of the world's largest refugee settlements with over 270,000 residents.

John T. Pedersen Photography - 2013 A gift from god Gifti Kope is a seven year old refugee-girl from South Sudan. But she is not like other children. Born without arms and legs, she is a severely disabled child. The family of two parents and three children (the fourth is born in Bidi Bidi) fled from the war in South Sudan to Bidi Bidi north in Uganda. They have been here since September 2016. — 2013

A gift from god

Gifti Kope is a seven year old refugee-girl from South Sudan.

But she is not like other children. Born without arms and legs, she is a severely disabled child.

The family of two parents and three children (the fourth is born in Bidi Bidi) fled from the war in South Sudan to Bidi Bidi north in Uganda. They have been here since September 2016.

John T. Pedersen Photography - 2013 A gift from god Gifti Kope is a seven year old refugee-girl from South Sudan. But she is not like other children. Born without arms and legs, she is a severely disabled child. The family of two parents and three children (the fourth is born in Bidi Bidi) fled from the war in South Sudan to Bidi Bidi north in Uganda. They have been here since September 2016. — 2013

A gift from god

Gifti Kope is a seven year old refugee-girl from South Sudan.

But she is not like other children. Born without arms and legs, she is a severely disabled child.

The family of two parents and three children (the fourth is born in Bidi Bidi) fled from the war in South Sudan to Bidi Bidi north in Uganda. They have been here since September 2016.

John T. Pedersen Photography - «It wasnt planned». As the war approached our village and many were slaughtered and shot in our area, we decided to flee, says Mary Pony (25). Her parents hoped that their daughter would receive good health care and a better life across the border. And to live a good life with the family in neighboring country Uganda, without war and uncertainty. — «It wasn't planned».

As the war approached our village and many were slaughtered and shot in our area, we decided to flee, says Mary Pony (25).

Her parents hoped that their daughter would receive good health care and a better life across the border.

And to live a good life with the family in neighboring country Uganda, without war and uncertainty.

John T. Pedersen Photography - «It wasnt planned». As the war approached our village and many were slaughtered and shot in our area, we decided to flee, says Mary Pony (25). Her parents hoped that their daughter would receive good health care and a better life across the border. And to live a good life with the family in neighboring country Uganda, without war and uncertainty. — «It wasn't planned».

As the war approached our village and many were slaughtered and shot in our area, we decided to flee, says Mary Pony (25).

Her parents hoped that their daughter would receive good health care and a better life across the border.

And to live a good life with the family in neighboring country Uganda, without war and uncertainty.

John T. Pedersen Photography - MOM, WHERE ARE MY ARMS AND LEGS She has begun to ask questions. Gifti grows up and begins to see the world and life around her ,that she is different from other children. We gave her the name Gifti when she was born, she is a gift from God, even though she is slightly different from other children tells mom Mary Pony (25) We walked for over a week from Jalimo, which is the village we come from in South Sudan. Along on our way we saw dead people on the roadside, shot and slaughtered. I was terrified and feared for our lives all the time» — "MOM, WHERE ARE MY ARMS AND LEGS"

She has begun to ask questions.

Gifti grows up and begins to see the world and life around her ,that she is different from other children.

We gave her the name Gifti when she was born, she is a gift from God, even though she is slightly different from other children tells mom Mary Pony (25)

We walked for over a week from Jalimo, which is the village we come from in South Sudan.

Along on our way we saw dead people on the roadside, shot and slaughtered.

"I was terrified and feared for our lives all the time»

John T. Pedersen Photography - MOM, WHERE ARE MY ARMS AND LEGS She has begun to ask questions. Gifti grows up and begins to see the world and life around her ,that she is different from other children. We gave her the name Gifti when she was born, she is a gift from God, even though she is slightly different from other children tells mom Mary Pony (25) We walked for over a week from Jalimo, which is the village we come from in South Sudan. Along on our way we saw dead people on the roadside, shot and slaughtered. I was terrified and feared for our lives all the time» — "MOM, WHERE ARE MY ARMS AND LEGS"

She has begun to ask questions.

Gifti grows up and begins to see the world and life around her ,that she is different from other children.

We gave her the name Gifti when she was born, she is a gift from God, even though she is slightly different from other children tells mom Mary Pony (25)

We walked for over a week from Jalimo, which is the village we come from in South Sudan.

Along on our way we saw dead people on the roadside, shot and slaughtered.

"I was terrified and feared for our lives all the time»

John T. Pedersen Photography - IRC-INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITEE They were very surprised by Giftis condition. And was aware that she should have been checked in a hospital, as well as been supported by a wheelchair. None of this has happened or been done. And it is promised that (OPM) Office of the Prime Minister should be notified. They are the ones responsible for us. But no one from the OPM has come out to the village and checked. The neighbors came to help us, and we got lots of help from them. I have to take care of the children alone since my husband has to go out to work. — IRC-INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITEE

They were very surprised by Gifti's condition. And was aware that she should have been checked in a hospital, as well as been supported by a wheelchair.

None of this has happened or been done. And it is promised that (OPM) Office of the Prime Minister should be notified.

They are the ones responsible for us.

But no one from the OPM has come out to the village and checked.

The neighbors came to help us, and we got lots of help from them.

I have to take care of the children alone since my husband has to go out to work.

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John T. Pedersen Photography - IRC-INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITEE They were very surprised by Giftis condition. And was aware that she should have been checked in a hospital, as well as been supported by a wheelchair. None of this has happened or been done. And it is promised that (OPM) Office of the Prime Minister should be notified. They are the ones responsible for us. But no one from the OPM has come out to the village and checked. The neighbors came to help us, and we got lots of help from them. I have to take care of the children alone since my husband has to go out to work. — IRC-INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITEE

They were very surprised by Gifti's condition. And was aware that she should have been checked in a hospital, as well as been supported by a wheelchair.

None of this has happened or been done. And it is promised that (OPM) Office of the Prime Minister should be notified.

They are the ones responsible for us.

But no one from the OPM has come out to the village and checked.

The neighbors came to help us, and we got lots of help from them.

I have to take care of the children alone since my husband has to go out to work.

<

John T. Pedersen Photography - Here in Uganda, I hoped to get good advice on how to take care of her in the best way. But am left alone for this. She can handle food and drink with her own technique, but she needs help dressing up and personal hygiene. In South Sudan, there is no help for people in the same situation as my daughter. If we had stayed in the home country, we would have risked being killed. «Then who would take care of our daughter » — Here in Uganda, I hoped to get good advice on how to take care of her in the best way. But am left alone for this.

She can handle food and drink with her own technique, but she needs help dressing up and personal hygiene.

In South Sudan, there is no help for people in the same situation as my daughter.

If we had stayed in the home country, we would have risked being killed.

«Then who would take care of our daughter »

John T. Pedersen Photography - Here in Uganda, I hoped to get good advice on how to take care of her in the best way. But am left alone for this. She can handle food and drink with her own technique, but she needs help dressing up and personal hygiene. In South Sudan, there is no help for people in the same situation as my daughter. If we had stayed in the home country, we would have risked being killed. «Then who would take care of our daughter » — Here in Uganda, I hoped to get good advice on how to take care of her in the best way. But am left alone for this.

She can handle food and drink with her own technique, but she needs help dressing up and personal hygiene.

In South Sudan, there is no help for people in the same situation as my daughter.

If we had stayed in the home country, we would have risked being killed.

«Then who would take care of our daughter »

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