By Sushil Sharma BBC reporter in Kathmandu

Human rights activists in Nepal have called for efforts to help thousands of children affected by the continuing cycle of violence between Maoist rebels and government forces.

As the world observes Universal Children's Day, activists say that many children in the country face an uncertain future.

The rebels want a communist republic

More than a 100 children are reported to have been killed and thousands of others have been orphaned and displaced.

Children from poor families in the remote hills have been worst affected.

It is in such regions that Maoist violence and the security operation to crush the rebels have been most intense.

Children have died at the hands of both the rebels and the security forces - while some have been caught in the crossfire.

More than 7,000 people have been killed since Maoists began an insurgency seven years ago to establish a communist state in Nepal.

On the frontline

The violence has orphaned 1,500 children while 3,000 have been displaced after their parents fled to relatively safer towns.

Maoist rebels have been blamed for using children in the battle front.

An international child rights group, the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, says that children normally begin working as porters and messengers, and then often end up on the frontline.

Security forces have also been accused of victimising innocent children on suspicion of collaborating with the rebels.

The rights activists have urged an end to the violence as a long-term solution to the problem.

But they say the immediate need is to make arrangements for food, shelter and education for the affected children.