Many children are at risk despite the end of the war

A seven-month-old baby boy is the product of a sex-for-food scandal which threatens to discredit the aid agencies sent to help her.

Three weeks ago the UNHCR and Save the Children UK published the findings of a three month investigation which lifted the lid on the widespread abuse of young refugees.

The report claimed children like Flori were being forced to swap sex for essential humanitarian supplies.

Senior ministers within the Sierra Leone government blame the complacency of the aid agencies.

They allege that in the absence of international monitors, who continue to live in Freetown, local aid workers in the more remote parts of the country have been able to act with impunity.

Trade in aid

Essential supplies that are targeted at the camps are diverted to the black market.

Food supplied by the UN's World Food Programme is on sale at a local market in Kenema and in Freetown UNHCR tarpaulins, used to build shelters, are on sale for �20 each.

The aid agencies claim diversions such as these are rare but the refugees say the trade in humanitarian aid means they only get a portion of the aid they are entitled to.

In Freetown, children like Flori who have left the camps now make a life from prostitution.

At night the bars fill with girls, some as young as 13, who are offering sex for as little as �10 a time.

Beach cleaner's allegations

They often target the UN soldiers and the aid workers, who to their credit largely ignore the persistent advances.

But there are some that are taking advantage.

One beach cleaner alleged he often came across British people having sex in the dunes.

A man who is alleged to have had sex with children as young as seven is now the subject of an investigation by Sierra Leone authorities.

The UN has reissued its code of practice to its personnel in Freetown and pledged that children like Flori will be better protected in the future.