Protect violence-hit children of Assam: NGO

New Delhi, May 14 (IANS) An NGO working for child rights Wednesday urged the government to provide protection to about 800 children in Assam affected by violence and living in relief camps.

"We urge the Assam government to take urgent steps to ensure that children who have been orphaned are staying in a place of safety with their relatives and only when there is no other recourse, should these children be sent to children's homes," said a statement from NGO Save the Children.

According to the NGO nearly 800 children are currently taking shelter along with their families in tents of different relief-camp in Kokrajhar and Baksa districts of Assam.

Violence erupted in Assam's Bodoland Territorial Area Districts (BTAD) May 1 and 2, when armed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) cadres attacked villages in Baksa and Kokrajhar districts killing at least 37 people.

Further, of 169 children in a particular camp, 64 are between 0-6 years of age and many of them have already lost their parents.

"The government should also ensure children affected by the mindless violence are able to continue their studies in an environment of safety and care, and that the children living in the camps are provided with psycho-social counselling along with safe drinking water and nutritious food," added the statement.