Masumi Yamashina, 36, became a UNICEF officer in South Sudan with the hope of supporting the nation-building efforts of the world's youngest country, but an unexpectedly harsh reality awaited her there.

In February, Yamashina, who was stationed at a U.N. compound in the northeastern city of Malakal, was forced to flee fierce fighting between government and anti-government forces amid a flurry of stray bullets.

Since taking the post of child protection specialist for the U.N. Children's Fund in South Sudan last September, Yamashina, in cooperation with nongovernmental groups, has been offering medical care and counseling to girls raped in refugee camps.