Liam Neeson met with mothers and children facing an aid funding crisis in South Sudan as he was pictured spending time with people in the war-torn country.
The Northern Irish actor, 73, who is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, said he left the six-day visit ‘deeply saddened’ after seeing the starving children.
Liam has warned that children should not have to ‘fend for themselves’, following the closure of hundreds of ‘lifesaving’ treatment centres in South Sudan.
Pictures of the Hollywood star show him interacting with local communities, playing football, visiting schools and speaking with mothers.
Liam was sporting a UNICEF vest as he kicked a football during a Young Dreams Foundation (YDF) sports tournament in Juba.
The uniform also consisted of a navy and blue hat with a lanyard.
Liam kicks a football during a Young Dreams Foundation (YDF) Academy sports tournament in Juba
The actor bumping fists with John Juda, 19, while visiting students at school
Posing for a photo with Alaak Kuku (left), the founder of the YDF during his trip to see the impacts of economic shocks, climate change, poverty, and insecurity on children’s lives
The star was pictured sitting with a mother and her her three-month-old daughter who was vaccinated against polio at the Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital
Liam enjoyed the company of the students, bumping fists with a teen named John Juda, 19, while visiting school children.
He also proudly stood with the founder of the YDF Alaak Kuku during his trip to see the impacts of economic shocks, climate change, poverty, and insecurity on children’s lives.
Alaak set up the programme for boys and girls to participate in football, basketball and volleyball games each week.
The Naked Gun star was pictured sitting with a mother and her her three-month-old daughter who was vaccinated against polio at the Al Sabbah Children’s Hospital as he heard stories about the importance of life-saving treatment services.
He also enjoyed conversations with young student reporters at St. Andrew School who wore yellow t-shirts and plaid skirts and trousers as part of their uniform.
Liam said: ‘I visited the main referral hospital in the capital Juba and was deeply saddened by seeing so many malnourished children.
‘They are hauntingly quiet when they should be laughing, sleeping when they should be playing, crying when they should be smiling.
Liam Neeson, looking on as a 6-month-old Gai Malith held by his mother has his mid-upper arm circumference measured at the UNICEF-supported Kolnyang Primary Health Care Centre in Bor
The Goodwill Ambassador speaking with young reporters at St. Andrew School
The Northern Irish actor, 73, has warned that children should not have to ‘fend for themselves’, following the closure of hundreds of ‘lifesaving’ treatment centres in South Sudan
‘With treatment sites closing around the country, I ask myself what will happen to those children?’
He added of the YDF founder: ‘Despite experiencing many challenges when he was growing up, with a little support and a lot of dreams and hope, he has built up a fully-fledged sports academy, with UNICEF and donor support.
‘It’s a powerful reminder that we should never write off young people, however challenging their situations.’
UNICEF works across South Sudan to both treat children with severe malnutrition, and prevent it, by improving diets, and providing supplements for pregnant women and children under five.
During the visit, Liam also met young men and women who had been forced into child marriage or recruited into gangs, who shared their stories of poverty and difficult childhoods.
