14 July -- United Nations humanitarian officials in Angola today issued a strong condemnation of the latest attack by armed bandits on a children's centre in which one boy was killed, four youths injured and 21 other children abducted.
In a joint statement, the Angola offices of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said last weekend's attack by 100 armed men on a "Children's Town" in Quissala, a village eight kilometres from the provincial capital Huambo, was a "cowardly, unprovoked crime," which constituted a gross violation of Angolan children's rights. "It also demonstrates once again that children are often the prime and most vulnerable casualties in countries in conflict," the statement said.
The whereabouts of the 21 kidnapped children, who were between 11 and 18 years of age, remained unknown, the agencies said, adding that it was unclear whether the children had been abducted simply to carry the goods stolen from the site, or whether there was another motive behind the attack on the Children's Town, which is home to 80 youths who participate in education, sports and cultural activities.
The UN Humanitarian Coordinator and UNICEF called upon the perpetrators of the crime to ensure the safe and immediate release of the children "who are simply innocent victims of the precarious security situation that continues to exist in Angola." The 9 July attack comes on the heels of another assault earlier this year, during which three children and a guard were killed, and six children were injured.
The two UN agencies also appealed to national and provincial authorities to pay special attention to the protection of Angolan children, particularly in child-oriented environments.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
