Aid agencies call for ceasefire in Somalia

Two international agencies working in Somalia said on Friday that peace and stability are urgently needed in Somalia to end the suffering of thousands of children affected by recent conflicts.

In a joint statement issued in Nairobi, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Britain-based Save the Children said children have been victims of the conflicts.

"Any continuation of the conflict within Somalia would do much to compromise the modest gains that have been achieved by the Somalis with the support of the international community over the past 15 years,"said UNICEF Somalia Representative Christian Balslev-Olesen.

The agencies' concern is now compounded by the fact that the conflict situation is restricting access for humanitarian workers to reach vulnerable populations, deliver supplies and monitor the extent of child rights violations.

"Children in Somalia, and in particular the south, are suffering the consequences of a triple humanitarian crisis: drought, flooding and now conflict," said El Khidir Daloum, Save the Children's Country Director.

"Unless the situation stabilizes rapidly, no one can guarantee the safety of Somali children. More children will be separated from their families, orphaned and vulnerable to abuse and neglect, "said Daloum.

Source: Xinhua