Religious and political turmoil is raging in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the country’s children are the ones suffering the most.
UNICEF confirmed at least two children were beheaded and one was mutilated. They also said around 6,000 children were kidnapped and forced into working for rival militias to be child soldiers.
According to the New York Daily News, Souleymane Diabate, UNICEF representative in CAR said: “We are witnessing unprecedented levels of violence against children. More and more children are being recruited into armed groups, and they are also being directly targeted in atrocious revenge attacks.”
Diabate also said, “targeted attacks against children are a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law and must stop immediately. Concrete action is needed now to prevent violence against children.”
UNICEF also confirmed that 16 children were killed and 60 were injured. As a result CAR has been in near-anarchy since the attack that took place in the capital, Bangui on Dec. 5. Over 935,000 people have been displaced in CAR, many have retreated into the bush to escape the violence. It’s said that 60 percent of those displaced are children.
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