But in an unexpected twist on the prevailing narrative of Ebola, the epidemic that has gripped parts of West Africa has actually helped these children, aged between six and 19, to make a fresh start.

Having already lost their father to violence and with their mother dying from cancer, the children’s grandmother, Iseta Swaray, set about in 2012 making arrangements to raise the children herself.

A refugee living in Australia, Ms Swaray did not know how to get the children residency in the country, so she enlisted the help of Sister Diana Santleben. Sister Diana appealed to the Immigration department to consider the threat of Ebola.

“In July when Ebola was going flat out, I wrote to Immigration and said can you face the fact that these children could be dead waiting for you to do your paperwork?”, Sister Diana said.

“Will you be able to look at yourself after these children died of ebola?"

The Department of Immigration granted the visas and the children were reunited with their grandmother at the beginning of November.

Sister Diana brought the children to Newcastle, where she found them a temporary home to complete the 21-day quarantine period.

A seventh child remains behind until he gets a clean bill of health.