Low graphics   |   Mobile      Login   |   About us      
Sat, 20:30 17 May 2008 GMT17

 
Northern Uganda

Night commuters at a shelter in Gulu, northern Uganda. REUTERS/Radu Sigheti

Nearly a million children have been uprooted by the war in northern Uganda where the cult-like rebel Lord's Resistance Army is notorious for abducting and brutalising children.

  • There are 935,000 children living in over 200 camps.

  • Rebels have kidnapped around 25,000 children.

  • Boys are used as soldiers and porters.

  • Girls are used as sex slaves.

  • Thousands of child "night commuters" walk miles each evening to find places to sleep where they won't be kidnapped.

  • "Child mothers" who return from captivity with babies are stigmatised.

"I always had to force myself to go into battle - I never wanted to do that. We were obliged to fight, or be killed by our leaders." Barnabas, 13, talking to World Vision


To find out more see our northern Uganda crisis briefing.



Printable view  |  Email this article  |  Send comments



URL: http://www.alertnet.org/UGchildren.htm

For our full disclaimer and copyright information please visit http://www.alertnet.org