NAIROBI, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The UN-backed massive campaign to enable hundreds of thousands of children go to school in southern Sudan this year was launched Saturday in Juba, the capital of southern Sudan.

    The massive "Go To School" campaign aims to more than double the number of children in primary school during the course of the school year, which starts on Monday, said the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

    Speaking at the event, attended by senior figures in the southern Sudan's government as well as school children, UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Rima Salah said that education is the key to future peace and prosperity in the region, which has been ravaged by decades of civil war, ending with a 2005 peace agreement.

    "Beyond the waters of the Nile, oil and minerals, southern Sudan has a precious - an infinite - natural resource: the minds, the determination and the potential of her people, especially her children," Salah said.

    The massive campaign is led by the government of southern Sudanwith the support of donors, UN agencies, NGOs and communities.

    UNICEF said about 22 million U.S. dollars has been received so far, with a similar amount still required to complete the targets for 2006.

    To go to school, the UN children's agency said over 3.8 million textbooks and teachers' guides are being delivered throughout the region, where the 21-year old civil war left virtually nothing in terms of infrastructure.

    UNICEF said that the basic school supplies for up to 1.6 million children have been purchased and are being delivered to schools all over southern Sudan. Enditem