Dozens of South Sudanese kids have been abducted, raped and killed while others were recruited in a series of attacks in South Sudan’s Unity state.
Various eyewitnesses reported this to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
Several tales of persons fleeing from the attacks in the Unity State mentioned that armed groups aligned with Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) carried out these heinous attacks.
According to UNICEF, the survivors narrated to their staff on how the entire villages were flamed down to ashes by armed groups, while a large number of females were alleged to have been taken outside, raped and murdered.
These inhumane acts victimized children as young as seven.
Not less than 19 boys, some as young as 10 year and even 7 year old girls were reportedly killed as others were mutilated or recruited to join the fighting and take care of stolen herds.
Jonathan Veitch UNICEF Representative in South sudan disclosed that numerous witness reports are building a chilling picture of the ordeal which children are suffering as fighting intensifies ahead of the rainy season.
Mr, Veitch said “The deliberate targeting of children in these attacks is an outrage.
“If children are to be protected from further harm, an immediate cessation of hostilities is urgently needed, together with full access for humanitarian workers
The UN agency in a statement said “The Government of South Sudan and forces opposed to Government should use all influence to protect children, to immediately stop grave violations against children, including sexual violence, and to release all children from armed forces and associated groups.”
An estimation of not less than 13,000 children have been recruited and are being used by all sides of the conflict.
This data has been verified by the United Nation.
