On 23 October 2025 in South Sudan, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson meets mother Emelda Pio, 22, and her 14-month-old son, Augustino Remezy, as they wait in line to receive money as part of a UNICEF-implemented cash transfer programme at the nutrition ward of the Gumbo Primary Health Care Centre in Juba.
Over the course of six months, participants – pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers with children under two years old – each receive two quarterly payments equivalent to $41 USD along with access to complementary support services.
Emelda says, “I will buy gumboots with this money for Augustino to protect his feet as he moves.”
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson visited South Sudan from 19-24 October 2025 to see how UNICEF programmes in nutrition, health, protection, education and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are supporting women and children in this young nation. Neeson heard from those affected by insecurity, violence and flooding, and also about the impacts of recent aid cuts on people and programmes.