More than 500 children were released from armed groups in South Sudan since the start of 2018, UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by the UNICEF, at least 207 children were freed by armed groups in South Sudan on Tuesday.
"This was the second release of children in a series, supported by UNICEF, that will see almost 1,000 children released from the ranks of terror groups in coming months," the statement said.
In early February, more than 300 children were released in Yambio Town and were returned to their families or UNICEF-supported care centres.
"This latest release of a further 207 children continues that effort and took place in a rural community called Bakiwiri, about an hour's drive from Yambio, in Western Equatoria State," UNICEF said.
"No child should ever have to pick up a weapon and fight," said Mahimbo Mdoe, UNICEF's Representative in South Sudan.
According to UNICEF, escalating fighting in July 2016 stalled the plans to release children from armed groups.
"The 207 children released (112 boys, 95 girls), were from the ranks of the South Sudan National Liberation Movement (SSNLM) - which in 2016 signed a peace agreement with the government and is now integrating its ranks into the national army - and from the Sudan People's Liberation Army-In Opposition (SPLA-IO)," the statement said.
There are still around 19,000 children serving in the ranks of armed forces and groups in South Sudan, UNICEF noted.
UNICEF urged all parties to the conflict to end the recruitment of children into armed groups and to release all children in their ranks.
