United Nations Children Fund or UNICEF in a statement on Monday reports that dozens of children were killed, at least 12 raped and others abducted and recruited in a series of attacks in Unity State over a two-week period.
UNICEF says survivors reported that villages were burned, many girls and women were raped and killed including children as young as seven years, at least 19 boys as young as ten years and that others mutilated to take care of stolen cattle.
UNICEF Representative in South Sudan Jonathan Veitch observes that the deliberate targeting of children is an outrage, calling for an urgent cessation of hostilities.
He urges the warring parties to immediately stop grave violations against children, protect them from sexual violence and release all from armed forces and associated groups.
It estimates 13 thousand children recruited and are being used by all sides of the conflict, according to data verified by the UN.