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DR Congo unrest: Children freed from militia, says UN | DR Congo unrest: Children freed from militia, says UN |
(about 7 hours later) | |
The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo says that 82 children - some as young as eight - have been rescued from an armed group. | The UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo says that 82 children - some as young as eight - have been rescued from an armed group. |
Monusco says the children, including 13 girls, had been forcibly recruited in the past six months by the Mai Mai Bakata Katanga militia. | Monusco says the children, including 13 girls, had been forcibly recruited in the past six months by the Mai Mai Bakata Katanga militia. |
The group is active in Katanga province in the south-east of the country. | The group is active in Katanga province in the south-east of the country. |
Forty of the rescued children have been reunited with their families and the others are said to be receiving care. | Forty of the rescued children have been reunited with their families and the others are said to be receiving care. |
Correspondents say the region remains very restive, with local militia demanding a fairer distribution of wealth between the poorer north of Katanga and the southern zone where foreign mining firms operate. | Correspondents say the region remains very restive, with local militia demanding a fairer distribution of wealth between the poorer north of Katanga and the southern zone where foreign mining firms operate. |
Monusco - the UN's stabilisation mission in DR Congo - said in a statement that the children had been identified and separated from the militia through the concerted efforts of child protection agencies. | Monusco - the UN's stabilisation mission in DR Congo - said in a statement that the children had been identified and separated from the militia through the concerted efforts of child protection agencies. |
"We are extremely concerned by continued reports of active recruitment by Mai Mai Bakata Katanga and other armed groups in eastern DRC," said Monusco head Martin Kobler. | "We are extremely concerned by continued reports of active recruitment by Mai Mai Bakata Katanga and other armed groups in eastern DRC," said Monusco head Martin Kobler. |
"Children face unacceptable risks when they are recruited for military purposes. The recruitment of children, particularly those under 15 years of age, could constitute a war crime and those responsible must be held to account." | |
Monusco said that since the beginning of the year, 163 children, including 22 girls, have been removed from the militia. | Monusco said that since the beginning of the year, 163 children, including 22 girls, have been removed from the militia. |
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