The Ceylon News

(RTTNews) - The UNICEF has voiced serious concern over the "forcible recruitment" of child-soldiers, some as young as 14, by the Tamil terrorist organization, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), as well of them being killed or injured in the ongoing war in Sri Lanka's northwest, media reports said.

The statement came as Sri Lankan military said troops were moving in to dominate the entire Puthukkuduyiruppu western area even as ground forces were engaged in pitched battles with Tamil Tiger rebels.

The U.N agency said Tuesday it had ample proof that indicates that the Tamil rebels had intensified forcible recruitment of civilians, and children as young as 14 were being targeted. It had recorded more than 6,000 cases of children recruited by the LTTE between 2003 and 2008. It also said it was alarmed at the high number of children being injured in the fighting.

These children are facing immediate danger and their lives are at great risk. Their recruitment is intolerable, said Philippe Duamelle, UNICEF's Representative in Sri Lanka. Child soldiers suffer physical abuse, traumatic events and face death. Instead of hope, fear defines their childhood, said Duamelle, adding, scores of injured children were evacuated in the past week.

The Defense Ministry quoted Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa as saying the forces had taken maximum precautions to avoid civilian casualties in the counter-terrorist operations in the north. He said the military had been restrained in using indirect fire at remaining terrorist enclaves to ensure safety of civilians.

The U.N agency for children reiterated its appeal to the government and the LTTE that civilians, especially children, must be given every protection in the fighting.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) evacuated 440 patients and their families from the Wanni to Trincomalee by ferry.

"Families continue to arrive in Putumattalan in a state of utter exhaustion and despair, hoping to be treated and rescued. But the reality is that there is an almost complete lack of medicine and relief items there," said Paul Castella, head of the ICRC delegation in Sri Lanka.

"We did save lives today but many people remain behind, helpless and anxiously waiting to be evacuated. It is now a matter of life and death," he added.