UN envoy stresses need to reunite families

The importance of reuniting children separated from their families by the Ethiopian-Eritrean border war has been underlined by the UN special representative for children and armed conflict, Olara Otunnu. Otunnu, who is on a visit to both countries, told a news conference in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, on Tuesday that he had been "deeply touched" by the extensive impact of war on the children of Eritrea. "I'm talking about children who have been displaced with their families, separated children, orphans and children who have been affected by landmines," he said, according to a transcript of his remarks. "We're talking about children being denied education and health in camps. And we're talking about the mushrooming of street children, which is largely unknown here." Otunnu, who left for Ethiopia on Wednesday, stressed that continued donor support was very important for the self-reliance of displaced populations. He also said commitment and action at the sub-regional level was important, and hoped that the Eritrean government "will be at the forefront of working with us to fashion a programme of action in the context of this sub-region". He said the leaders of both countries had promised their cooperation in the reunification project. "With regard to the reunification I'm talking about, it's mainly of families who have been separated, and especially children who may have been left behind," he added. He stressed the urgency of "doing everything possible" to make sure families were reunited. He also said there was no evidence of the systematic use of child soldiers by either side. "Without for a moment suggesting that there has absolutely been NO child soldiering...it is significant for us to note that no systematic practice has existed on either side," he told reporters. Otunnu said it was a "tragedy" that a good part of Eritrea would remain under landmines for a very long time. "Some of the more fertile areas are the ones which are affected by landmines," he said. "So this is going to be one of the most important challenges facing this country, and I believe there is the same challenge on the Ethiopian side." Otunnu was due to visit the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia, which borders Eritrea, on Wednesday and Thursday.