Colombo (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Tamil Tiger rebels have recruited at least 40 child soldiers since the tsunami devastated Sri Lanka's coastline and killed nearly 31,000 people, the UN children's fund said yester- day.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had taken three children from a relief centre for survivors, while others had been recruited from areas of the northeast held by the guerillas, Unicef said.
"We have 40 cases of confirmed child recruitment since the tsunami," Unicef spokesman Geoffrey Keele said.
"We had hoped that with such a disaster, the LTTE would have ended this practice. But unfortunately no." Human Rights Watch in November accused the rebels of enlisting more than 3,500 boys and girls under 18 since the Oslo-brokered truce went into place in April 2003.
A child as young as 13 was among 22 boys and 18 girls recruited by the Tigers. Most of them were aged between 15 and 17.
There was no immediate response from the rebels. Tiger guerillas were not immediately available for comment, but have said they were providing food and shelter to poor children.
The Tigers used intimidation and threats to pressure Tamil families in the north and east to provide their sons and daughters for military service.