UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR AND UNICEF ANGOLA CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF 21 ABDUCTED CHILDREN

Press Release
AFR/254
IHA/711

UNITED NATIONS HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR AND UNICEF ANGOLA CALL FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF 21 ABDUCTED CHILDREN

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 14 July (OCHA/UNICEF) -- The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Angola and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Angola are shocked and saddened by this weekend's attack by a group of about 100 armed bandits on Children's Town -- a residence, school and training centre for children and youth -- in Quissala, Huambo Province, Angola. This cowardly, unprovoked crime took place in the evening of 9 July and constitutes a gross violation of Angolan children's rights. It also demonstrates once again that children are often the prime and most vulnerable casualties in countries in conflict.

During the attack, one 16 year old boy was killed and four children between 14-16 years of age were injured. These children are now being treated for their injuries at the Huambo Provincial Hospital. However, 21 other children between 11-18 years of age were abducted by the bandits and their current welfare and whereabouts are unknown. It is not clear whether the children were abducted simply to carry the goods stolen from the site -- mattresses, blankets, children's possessions -- or whether another motive may be involved.

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Angola and UNICEF Angola call upon the perpetrators of this crime to ensure the safety and immediate release of the children, who are simply innocent victims of the precarious security situation that continues to exist in Angola. This is the second such attack against Children's Town - earlier this year, in a similar attack, three children and one guard were killed and six children were injured. The UNICEF and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) in Angola also appeal to both national and provincial authorities to pay special attention to the protection of Angolan children in such child-oriented environments.

Quissala has served as an ADPP (Ajuda de Desenvolvimento de Povo para Povo) Centre of Education and Development in Angola since 1991 and is situated eight kilometres from the provincial capital, Huambo. The ADPP-run Children's Town is home to 80 children and youth who participate in various developmental education, sports and cultural activities. However, it is noted that during this weekend's attack, the bandits did great damage to the children's sleeping quarters as well as destroying the generator and the carpenter's workshop at Children's Town, thus hampering future activities.

Funeral services for Isaias Mario, the boy who was killed in the attack, were attended by all the friends of Children's Town on 10 July. The remaining children and youths are currently being accommodated in a building provided by the Huambo provincial government until the security situation improves, and their educational activities resumed on 12 July. The ADPP and the children have also received support from many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Huambo Province, as well as from various United Nations agencies in Angola in coping with the situation.

The UNICEF and OCHA strongly condemn all such violent attacks against children and on NGOs which are working to improve the already difficult lives faced by many of Angola's children and youth.

For further information, please contact: Liza Barrie, UNICEF Media, New York (212) 326 7593; Kent Page, UNICEF Angola, 2442-331-010; Rosa Malango, OCHA, New York (212) 963 2380; David Short, OCHA Angola, 2442-448-205; Donato Kiniger- Passigli, OCHA Geneva (4122) 917 2653; Lynn Geldof, UNICEF Geneva(4122)9095501; or Alfred Ironside, UNICEF, New York (212) 326-7261.

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