Over 440 minors killed in 10 years of Maoist insurgency: Report

February 28, 2006
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At least 444 children have lost their lives in the decade-long Maoist conflict, a report published by a child rights group has said.

Out of the total 444 children killed during the insurgency, 218 lost their lives at the hands of the security forces while the Maoists were responsible for 196 deaths, 12 children died in crossfire and the condition of three minors remains unknown, a report released by Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN) said.

More than 44,000 children have been displaced due to the war, according to the report. “On an average, 41 children are killed in the ongoing conflict in Nepal every year,” it revealed.

In the past 10 years, the mid-western district of Rolpa saw the highest number of causalities of minors with 47 deaths reported there. Of them, 36 lost were killed by the security forces while 10 were killed by the Maoists whereas the cause of death of one child could not been ascertained.

Similarly, the conflict has cost the lives of 22 children in far-western Kailali district, 20 in Dang and 15 children in Rukum district. The insurgency toll on children was highest in 2001 with 144 children losing their lives that year, a number far higher than the toll than in 1997, one year after the onset of Maoist war, when while only one child was killed.

In 2005, 63 children died in conflict while 10 children were killed in the month of January this year, according to the report.