What the news media don't say about the tsunamis
Correspondent:: "Modemac"
Date: 1 Jan 2005 19:18:17 -0800
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COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - A teenager who escaped death but was left orphaned
and homeless by the Asian tsunami met yet one more agony: gang rape,
one of several cases of child abuse being investigated in the disaster
zone, an official said Saturday.
Of all the human tragedies emerging from the worst natural disaster in
decades, sexual abuse of vulnerable children in refugee camps must be
among the most shocking.
But experts say it's not uncommon in times of conflict and trauma.
"When there is displacement and chaos, the possibility of this type of
behavior is higher," said Harendra de Silva, head of the National Child
Protection Authority.
De Silva said his governmental agency already is investigating several
complaints of sexual abuse in centers housing tens of thousands of
survivors.
So far, the cases of suspected abuse have been isolated. But officials
are concerned that the trauma of the catastrophe, coupled with the
close quarters in the refugee centers, could spawn many more cases.
"In the aftermath of displacement and shock you do see an increase of
abuse and violence against women and children," said Ted Chaiban, head
of the U.N. children's agency in Colombo.
He said UNICEF was funding the survey by de Silva's group to identify
abused children and provide them with extra protection.
De Silva gave few details of the case of the gang-raped 17-year-old
girl, which occurred in the area of Galle on the southern coast but not
in a refugee center. Hours after being washed ashore and left orphaned
and homeless, she was raped by six men, he said.
Since Friday, two other cases of suspected abuse of children were
reported, including one by a man who attempted to molest his
granddaughter, de Silva said.
All the reported cases were in the south, he said after a tour of camps
in the region. A team from his office will soon visit other areas.
A church-run welfare center near Colombo, the capital, folded up its
relief operations Friday after the clergymen heard that a minor had
been abused, a relief worker who was working at the church said,
speaking on condition of anonymity. The refugees were transferred to a
government-run center.
"These are all vulnerable children and opportunists are taking
advantage of these children without parents and in open camps," de
Silva said.
He said the children suspected of being abused were taken under the
protection of child welfare authorities.
Correspondent:: "iDRMRSR"
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2005 22:33:38 -0500
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Hmmmph. Da noiv!
Next thing you'll hear, they get hungry and cook up the orphans for a quick
nosh.
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