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Summary: Highlights the situation in Angola,
Colombia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Sri
Lanka, and the gaps between
governments' legal obligations to
protect displaced children and the
reality of displaced children's lives.
"War brought us here. We were taken unawares and had no chance to
bring anything, not even our clothes. I'm not going to school here
because my mother can't pay for me."
These are the words of Tamba, a young boy living in a camp for
displaced people in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown. Tamba is one of
13 million children across the world who have been forced to leave
their homes by armed conflict and violence, but who remain within the
borders of their own countries - often beyond the reach of
international protection. Once displaced, many children spend at
least six years away from their homes. Many live in fear, and are
forced to move over and over again.
This report aims to make these children count. It is part of Save the
Children's campaign to persuade governments in the countries
concerned, armed groups and the international community to take
urgent action to protect internally displaced children. It highlights
the situation in Angola, Colombia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Sri
Lanka, and pinpoints the gaps between governments' legal obligations
to protect displaced children and the reality of displaced children's
lives. It makes specific recommendations to improve international
efforts to protect and assist displaced children.
Owner: Andrew Mawson, Rebecca Dodd and John Hilary