Challenges and Responses: A Qualitative Study of Unaccompanied South Sudanese Refugee Children in Jewi, Ethiopia

This study explores the challenges affecting unaccompanied refugee children in Jewi refugee camp, located in Gambella, Ethiopia, and it examines the institutional responses to these challenges. Employing a constructivist philosophical stance and a single case study design, the research utilized purposive sampling to collect data from unaccompanied children, their caregivers, and social work practitioners. Data were collected through interviews with twenty unaccompanied refugee children and five key informants, supplemented by a focus group discussion involving twenty-four children, equally divided by gender (twelve males and twelve females). Thematic analysis identified tribal conflict, geographical proximity, and family disintegration as the primary drivers of child migration to Ethiopia. Although the children have access to education and basic healthcare, the findings indicate persistent hardships. These include environmental and psychological challenges, restrictions on extracurricular engagement, cultural disparities, rigid gender norms, limited training opportunities, and inadequacies in health services. The study advocates for sustained stakeholder engagement to safeguard child rights and facilitate family reunification. It also calls for unified coordination among service providers to enhance their delivery mechanisms. Additional recommendations include gender-sensitivity training, psychosocial support, and vocational programs for refugee children.

Unaccompanied Refugee Children, Institutional Responses

1. Abur, W., (2016). Benefits of Participation in Sport for People from Refugee Backgrounds: A Study of the South Sudanese Community in Melbourne, Australia. Issues in Scientific Research, 1, 10–26. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Abur, W., (2019). A New Life with Opportunities and Challenges: The Settlement Experiences of South Sudanese-Australians. Melbourne: Africa World Books. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Abur, W., and Mphande, C., (2019). Mental Health and Wellbeing of South Sudanese-Australians. Journal of Asian and African Studies, 55, 412–428. doi: 10.1177/0021909619880294 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Abur, W., and Spaaij, R., (2016). Settlement and Employment Experiences of South Sudanese People from Refugee Backgrounds in Melbourne, Australia. Australasian Review of African Studies, 37, 107–128. doi: 10.22160/22035184/ARAS-2016-37-2/107-128 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Alex Adaku, J. O. (2016). Mental health and psychosocial support for South Sudanese refugees in northern Uganda: a needs and resource assessment. BioMed Central, 1-10. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Arega, N. T. (2021). Posttraumatic stress among Eritrean unaccompanied refugee minors in Ethiopia. International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, 17(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-02-2020-0016 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Bean, T.M. (2006). Assessing the psychological distress and mental healthcare needs of unaccompanied refugee minors in the Netherlands. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/4921 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Bronfenbrenner, U. (1994). Ecological models of human development. In T. Husén & T. N. Postlethwaite (Eds.), International encyclopedia of education (Vol. 3, 2nd ed., pp. 1643–1647). Oxford: Elsevier. Reprinted in M. Gauvain & M. Cole (Eds.), Readings on the development of children (2nd ed., pp. 37–43). New York: Freeman. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Castles, S. and Miller, M. (2009) The Age of Migration: International Population Movements in the Modern World, Guilford Press, Fourth Edition. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Çelikaksoy. A, and Wadensjo. E. (2015). Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Refugee Children in Sweden: An Outlook on Demography, Education and Employment. IZA Discussion Paper No. 8963: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2593253 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2593253 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (3rd ed.). California, United States of America: SAGE Publications. Inc. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Creswell, J.W. (2007). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among the approaches (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Derluyn, I., & Broekaert, E. (2008). Unaccompanied refugee children and adolescents: the glaring contrast between a legal and a psychological perspective. International journal of law and psychiatry, 31(4), 319–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlp.2008.06.006 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Eunson, P. D. (1995). Children in War: the role of child-to-child activities in the therapy and care of displaced unaccompanied children. MERLIN. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Fisher, C. (2010). Researching and Writing a Dissertation: An essential guide for business students (3rd ed.). Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Førde, S. (2007). Refugee Children and Resilience: Empowerment, Participation and Subjective Wellbeing. Master Thesis, University of Bergen, Health Promotion, Bergen. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Hopkins, P. (2008). Ethical issues in research with unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Children’s Geographies, 6(1), 37–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733280701791884 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Isokuorttia, N., Aaltonen, E., Laajasalo, T., & Barlow, J. (2020). Effectiveness of child protection practice models: A systematic review. Child Abuse & Neglect, 108, 104632. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104632 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Jensen, T. K., Skårdalsmo, E. M., & Fjermestad, K. W. (2014). Development of mental health problems - a follow-up study of unaccompanied refugee minors. Child and adolescent psychiatry and mental health, 8, 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-8-29 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Kumar, R. (2011). Research Methodology: a step-by-step guide for beginners (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, United States of America: SAGE Publications Inc. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Lopez, A. (2010). Seeking 'Alternatives to Detention’: Unaccompanied Immigrant Children in the U.S. Immigration System". Honors College Theses. 97. https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/honorscollege_theses/97 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Massey, A. H. (1993). Theories of International Migration: A Review and Appraisal. Population and Development Review, Vol. 19, No. 3 (, 19 (3), 431-466. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. Molla, B., & Berhanu, Z. (2018). The experiences of Ethiopian unaccompanied and separated migrant children in Yemen. Ethiopian Journal of the Social Sciences and Humanities, 14(1), 1–29. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejossah.v14i1.1 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Nugent, C. (2006). Whose Children Are These? Towards Ensuring The Best Interests And Empowerments of Unaccompanied Alien Children. Public Interest Law Journal, 15, 219-235. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Pandey and Pandey (2015). Research Methodology: Tools and Techniques. Romania, European Union: Bridge Center. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Trovato, A. R. (2016). Dangerous crossing: demographic and clinical features of rescued sea migrants seen in 2014 at an outpatient clinic at Augusta Harbor, Italy. BioMedical Central, 1-11. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. UNHCR. (2015). South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan. Juba: UNHCR. https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/29789 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. UNHCR. (2023, September 30). Ethiopia: Overview of refugee camps and sites as of 30 September 2023 [Map report]. UNHCR. https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/104087 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. UNHCR. (2025, October 29). South Sudan situation: Displacement overview as of 29 October 2025 (CORE_SSD 30 Oct 2025_v2) [Situation report]. UNHCR. https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/download/119413 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

30. Van Breda, A. D. (2018). A critical review of resilience theory and its relevance for social work. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 54(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.15270/54-1-611 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

31. Yin, R. K. (2003). Case Study Research Design & Methods (3rd ed.). London, United Kingdoms: SAGE Publications. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Assessment of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Repositioning TVET for Economic Development in Nigeria
• Teachers’ Use of Assure Model Instructional Design on Learners’ Problem Solving Efficacy in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
• “E-Booksan Ang Kaalaman”: Development, Validation, and Utilization of Electronic Book in Academic Performance of Grade 9 Students in Social Studies
• Analyzing EFL University Students’ Academic Speaking Skills Through Self-Recorded Video Presentation
• Major Findings of The Study on Total Quality Management in Teachers’ Education Institutions (TEIs) In Assam – An Evaluative Study