Sixty-eight children who were abducted from the Gambella region of Ethiopia are still missing, two U.N. human rights experts said last week.
It adds pressure on both South Sudan and Ethiopia to resume joint efforts to find the missing children.
“Ethiopian and South Sudanese authorities must take concrete steps to break the cycle of violence and prevent the recurrence of such heinous attacks,” said UN Special Rapporteur on summary executions, Agnes Callamard.
In April, armed men from the Murle region attacked 13 Nuer villages in the Gambella region, killing over 200 people and resulting in the abduction of more than 150 children
At least 90 children were rescued by South Sudanese and Ethiopian authorities, according to the U.N, but the rescue operations have reportedly stopped.
All of the children who are still missing are under the age of 13, and are at a great risk of being abducted according to the U.N.
“Authorities in both countries are urged to redouble efforts to find and release the missing children as a matter of priority. These past six months have been absolutely intolerable for these children and for their families,” the U.N. experts said.