Bangkok--Jan 5--eTurbo news
UNICEF photo
(eTurboNews) -- UNICEF workers in Malaysia are claiming that they have received an unsolicited text message offering Aceh children for free, raising concerns that child traffickers are active in areas that have been affected by the killer waves.
Worried that traffickers may take advantage, the Indonesian government has stepped up its protection of the 13,000 children who have been orphaned by the tsunami disaster. In a move to protect the orphaned children, Indonesia has barred people from leaving the country with children under the age of 16 from the hard-hit Aceh province.
Fearing that the children can be taken advantage of, an Indonesian official said the measure was implemented because "the government would like to protect the children" from potential traffickers.
Pleased that authorities are taking action, UNICEF spokesman Simon Ingram said there are indications "traffickers are active" in the tsunami-stricken regions. "We're extremely concerned about it," Ingram was quoted as saying. "We're very worried this situation could develop."
UNICEF is concerned that orphaned children will be sold into forced labor or even sexual slavery. The child protection chief at UNICEF said the recent chaos provides a "perfect opportunity" for people who prey on children.
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