LTTE has intensified forcible child recruitment - UNICEF
The LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of
civilians and that children as young as 14 years old are now being
targeted, said UNICEF Office in Colombo today.
"These children are facing immediate danger and their
lives are at great risk. Their recruitment is intolerable," said
Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF's Representative in Sri Lanka.
From 2003 to the end of 2008, UNICEF has recorded more
than 6000 cases of children recruited by the LTTE. "Child soldiers
suffer physical abuse, traumatic events and face death. Instead of hope,
fear defines their childhood," said Duamelle.
UNICEF also said it was extremely alarmed at the high
number of children being injured in the fighting in the northern area of
Sri Lanka known as the Vanni. "Scores of injured children have been
evacuated in the past week," said UNICEF's Duamelle. "Children are
victims of this conflict by being killed, injured, recruited, displaced,
separated and denied their every day needs due to the fighting."
Here is
the text of the statement from the UNICEF
Courtesy : Presidential Media Unit |
