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KHARTOUM, 9 April, 2015 - A group of four children who were abducted in Abyei have been released, UNICEF can confirm.
The children, aged between 6 and 12, were taken on 2nd March by gunmen after an attack on the village of Marial Achak in the Abyei region.
The children, two girls and two boys, were released after tribal mediation with the support of UNISFA, the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei. UNICEF and its partners are assisting with the family reunification of the children, and are providing the children with any necessary counselling and psychological support.
“UNICEF condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms of abduction of children. Children are not a commodity and can never be held for ransom or against any other form of compensation”, said Geert Cappelaere, UNICEF Representative in Sudan. A country, region or community will only truly thrive if investment in health, development and protection against violence, abuse and exploitation of all girls and boys is a top priority and agreed by all.
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UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit www.unicef.org