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UNICEF raises child conscription issue with LTTE
By N. Dilshath Banu
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M.Veneman raised the issue of child-soldier recruitment with the LTTE in Kilinochchi during her visit to the area to address post-tsunami rehabilitation efforts.

“We didn’t address specifics with regard to where children had been taken from. But I want to reiterate that UNICEF is going to be vigilant and will take all complaints of child soldiers, investigate them and do everything to get the children back home and help them with programmes. The LTTE representatives are willing to work with us in the future to address the concerns of the child soldiers,” said Ms. Veneman.

Reviewing the situation, she said, “But there are people still in temporary houses and many are unable to resume their livelihoods, though the rebuilding has begun.” Working closely with the Government, UNICEF has repaired damaged water systems and sanitation facilities serving some 100,000 people, including 124 camps and another 50,000 families returning to their homes.
More than 170 schools were cleared of rubble and 97 temporary school shelters were built. UNICEF provided school supplies, uniforms, 48,000 desks and 52,000 chairs to ensure that 90% of the school children were able to attend school.

Ms. Veneman met Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and donor community representatives to discuss the coordination of the Joint Mechanism (JM).
The UNICEF Executive Director recalled that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stressed the importance of coordinated response and asked President Clinton to serve in a role not just for the UN agencies but also for Non-Governmental Organizations and the Governments of the tsunami-hit countries.

“The whole UN family have been encouraging the signing of the JM. We think it is very important that we have the means with which we can work and address the issues of the tsunami as whole” she said.

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