Children in Afghanistan would continue to suffer from the war and instability in the war-torn country, UN Special Envoy for Children and Armed Conflict Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy said Thursday.
The children in Afghanistan, she added, are the forgotten victims of the conflicts as many of them have been used as combatants and porters of munitions.
"Children are increasingly reported to be used by armed groups, including the Taliban, as combatants, porters of munitions, informants and in some cases as carriers of improvised explosive devices," she told newsmen after a five-day tour to Afghanistan.
She also expressed concern over attacking schools by militants, adding so far this year 83 schools had been attacked by anti-government elements in Afghanistan.
In 2007, she added that 223 cases of attacks had been registered against schools which had left 75 dead and 111 injured.
However, she could not give a figure on how many children have been held in detention centers, recruited by armed groups or killed in the armed conflicts by saying "I do not have the number."
The UN dignitary, who during her stay to Afghanistan called on President Hamid Karzai and met with officials from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and the U.S.-led Coalition, urged all concerned parties including the Taliban to respect the safety of children in the conflicts.
Source: Xinhua
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