Half South Sudan's 800 000 displaced children not in school – report

Juba - Almost half of 800 000 children driven from their homes by South Sudan's civil conflict are not attending school, a group of humanitarian organisations said on Tuesday.

The East African nation has been in civil conflict since a power struggle between President Salva Kiir and Machar turned violent in December 2013.

The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly two million.

Despite the difficult humanitarian situation, many children prioritized the desire to go to school before other basic needs, including shelter and food, according to a joint report by World Vision, Save the Children, Intersos and Care.

Some parents and children told researchers they had taken matters into their own hands by constructing temporary school buildings or collecting money to pay a teacher.

"We are protected in school. Soldiers don't attack us or abduct us there," a 15-year-old boy explained why going to school was important to him.

Another boy said children in South Sudan learn in school how to cope with dangerous situations, for example how to detect landmines.