Hundreds of boys in South Sudan
have been kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers, the United Nations
children’s agency says. The figure is a big increase on the 89 child abductions
reported by Unicef last month.
have been kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers, the United Nations
children’s agency says. The figure is a big increase on the 89 child abductions
reported by Unicef last month.
Their latest statement blamed a
militia group allied to the government.
militia group allied to the government.
South Sudan is in a state of civil
war with forces loyal to President Salva Kiir pitted against rebels led by former
Vice-President Riek Machar. The campaign group Human Rights Watch has accused
both sides of using child soldiers.
war with forces loyal to President Salva Kiir pitted against rebels led by former
Vice-President Riek Machar. The campaign group Human Rights Watch has accused
both sides of using child soldiers.
“We fear [the children] are
going from the classroom to the front line,” said Unicef’s representative
in South Sudan, Jonathan Veitch.
Witnesses report seeing children
as young as 12 carrying guns, according to the UN.
as young as 12 carrying guns, according to the UN.
The seizure of the boys happened
in an area known as Wau Shilluk, in oil-rich Upper Nile state. The UN believes
12,000 children were used as child soldiers across South Sudan last year.
in an area known as Wau Shilluk, in oil-rich Upper Nile state. The UN believes
12,000 children were used as child soldiers across South Sudan last year.
About 1.5 million people have been
displaced by the fighting in the country and 2.5 million are facing severe food
shortages.
displaced by the fighting in the country and 2.5 million are facing severe food
shortages.
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