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	Children in Armed Conflicts by Health and Human Rights Information Norway   More than 5000 children are, on a daily basis, displaced due to armed conflicts somewhere in the world. Many of these are able to run away from the violence together with their families, but an increasing number may find themselves alone in a threatening situation.   Among these, some will be recruited into armed groups. Whereas some children have been abducted and forcedly separated from their families, others have been driven to volunteer as a result of social exclusion, and family breakdown, or after witnessing atrocities.   Children, both girls and boys, even under the age of 15 are cynically included and used as cheap and expendable tools of war, and too many are also exposed to sexual abuse and exploitation in the context of armed groups.   Over the past decade we have seen the number of child soldiers increasing. And as small arms and light weapons become more accessible the children are readily armed, forming part of the ongoing violent conflicts in the different and often forgotten corners of the world.   Despite strong international focus on preventing and bringing to halt, the active participation of children in war, there is a long way to go. And at the same time, the work to help the children out of this, to provide them with safety, education, rehabilitation and social networks represent an extremely important and complex endeavour.   We provide practical work and experiences, along with international conventions and regulations presented in order to inspire and strengthen this necessary work among children and young persons who have been exposed to loss, violence and lost childhoods.   http://www.hhri.org/thematic-pages-overview/children-in-armed-conflict/   * Health and Human Rights aims to make resources more easily accessible to health professionals working with people exposed to human rights abuses, armed conflict, forced migration and other human rights violations. Visit the related web page
	Eastern Congo"s Beni region rocked by killings, rights abuses and fear by UN refugee agency (UNHCR), agencies Democratic Republic of the Congo   19 December 2014   The UN refugee agency on Friday called for humanitarian access to the Beni area of eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo amid a deteriorating security and human rights situation for the civilian population.   "Multiple attacks over the last three months have caused widespread fear and displacement [in this area of North Kivu province]. We are appealing for humanitarian access to help people in distress," said UNHCR spokesman Adrian Edwards.   "There are credible reports that at least 256 people, including children, have been killed in machete and axe attacks since October. New massacres by armed groups are reported every week," Edwards told journalists in Geneva.   He added that at least 52 people were slaughtered in villages near Oicha to the west of Beni on December 7-8, and a week later 19 more people were killed nearby. Violence has also spread northwards into Orientale province, where seven people were killed and their villages during the night of Tuesday and Wednesday this week.   The violence has caused spikes in displacement, both within Beni and the surrounding area. In all, around 88,000 people have been displaced. People have to live in schools and churches, or with host families. Leaflets threatening new attacks are terrifying the population and triggering further movements towards larger towns and cities.   "The survivors and the displaced live in a desperate situation and in constant fear. They remain at risk of new attacks and have had no respite for the past three months. They have little protection against violence and have received hardly any assistance," Edwards said.   People need shelter, basic aid items, clean drinking water and access to health services and schools. Aid projects have been suspended because of the deteriorating security situation. This is of particular concern in an area with a high prevalence of malaria, typhoid, anaemia, malnutrition and diarrhoea.   Edwards said UNHCR and its partners needed safe access to these areas to establish a humanitarian presence and to help the traumatized population. To date, it has been very challenging for aid organizations to reach Beni and other affected places, with the Congolese army restricting movement in these areas. In addition, people are unable to go to their farms and food prices are rising.   "We are concerned that this situation could result in rising levels of malnutrition and eventually in famine if the situation is not immediately addressed," Edwards said.   UNHCR called on the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to protect the civilian population in Beni and the surrounding areas and to allow humanitarian organizations into the affected areas. The refugee agency also urged the UN peacekeeping mission to increase its capacity to protect civilians in Beni and nearby villages and called on all sides to respect human rights.   http://www.unhcr.org/549404d16.html http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=50852#.VVQyC1KpWzl Visit the related web page
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