COLOMBO, Feb 17: The recruitment of children ,some as young as 14, by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the conflict areas of northern Sri Lanka has reached intolerable levels, a Unicef spokesman said on Tuesday.

“We have clear indications that the LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of civilians and that children as young as 14 years old are now being targeted,” said Mr Philippe Duamelle, Unicef’s representative in Sri Lanka.

“These children are facing immediate danger and their lives are at great risk. Their recruitment is intolerable,” he added.

From 2003 to the end of 2008, Unicef has recorded more than 6,000 cases of children recruited by the LTTE.

“Child soldiers suffer physical abuse, traumatic events and face death. Instead of hope, fear defines their childhood,” Duamelle said.

He was extremely alarmed at the high number of children being injured in the fighting in the northern area of Sri Lanka, known as Vanni.

“Scores of injured children have been evacuated in the past week. Children are victims of this conflict by being killed, injured, recruited, displaced, separated and denied their every day needs due to the fighting.” Duamelle said.