About 1,300 children were recruited by armed groups in 2016, bringing the total number of children used in the South Sudanese conflict since 2013 to more than 17,000, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Thursday.

"Since the first day of this conflict, children have been the ones most devastatingly affected by the violations," Ms. Leila Gharagozloo-Pakkala, UNICEF’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa said in a statement.

"Now, as the fighting intensifies and despite repeated pledges by all to end child recruitment, children are once again being targeted,” she added.

She pointed out that that the government forces and SPLA-IO have both signed agreements with the UN in order to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children in the conflict.

"So far, 1,932 children have been released by armed forces: 1,755 in 2015 and 177 this year," Ms. Gharagozloo-Pakkala said.

However, Leila said that violations against children have continued to occur since 2013, including 2,342 who have been killed or maimed, 3,090 who have been abducted, and 1,130 sexually assaulted.