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A senior United Nations envoy has asked the Sri Lankan government to release all detained Tamil Tiger child soldiers and reunite them with their families. The UN special envoy on children and armed conflict made the call while on a five-day visit to the island. Maj-Gen Patric Cammaert said that examples from across the world showed that children recovered better from trauma when living with their families. The envoy met nearly 300 children forcibly recruited by the rebels. "Hundreds of children are still missing or separated from their parents. They must be reunited as soon as possible," the Dutch UN official told reporters. "The best practice in other parts of the world show that children recover better from traumatic experiences when living with their loved ones." He said children in government-run camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) were also at risk. The government recently allowed tens of thousands of civilians held in IDP camps to move about more freely from 1 December, but aid agencies and reporters are still barred from entering them and speaking with inmates. "The aftermath of the conflict makes children extremely vulnerable," he said. "Women and girls are particularly vulnerable and preventive measures have to be taken to protect them from any form of abuse such as sexual violence." Mr Cammaert said that the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and Save the Children should be allowed into all camps to help unaccompanied and separated children. The Sri Lankan military declared victory over the rebels in May this year.
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