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Gunmen kidnap 89 children in South Sudan: UNICEF

Xinhua, February 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

KHARTOUM, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped 89 children on Saturday near the town of Malakal, capital of the oil-rich Upper Nile state in South Sudan, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF said in a statement that "gunmen have gathered outside a residential area, and carried out the inspection from house to house, and kidnapped the children, the majority of whom over the age of 12 years."

The organization reported that the attack took place near Malakal city, capital of the Upper Nile state, where a camp for refugees has admitted thousands of displaced people who fled their villages because of violent fightings.

UNICEF's representative in South Sudan Jonathan Fitch warned that "kidnappers have violated the international law," adding that "the abduction and exploitation of children in the act of conflicts is in violation of international humanitarian law."

Armed confrontations erupted between the government army and dissidents loyal toRiek Machar, the former deputy president of South Sudan, in Dedember 2013, after President Salva Kiir acused Machar of planning to carry out a coup against him.

The Human Rights Watch announced earlier that the parties to the conflict in South Sudan are continuing the recruitment of children for using as soldiers in the civil war. Endit