A growing number of traumatised, malnourished children as young as five are arriving unaccompanied at camps in Sri Lanka having been separated from their parents in their escape from the violence in North East, Says Save the Children.

According to Save the Children many have been forced to flee with relatives while their parents remain trapped in the conflict zone where the movement of civilians is still restricted by the LTTE.

Most of these unaccompanied children, all under the age of sixteen, are becoming lost in the crowds of displaced people as they enter government controlled areas says save the children.

Save the Children’s acting country director in Sri Lanka Branko Golubovic said: ‘the camps are chaotic. These children are coming out of combat areas where they have been severely traumatised only to find themselves in yet another harsh environment in the camps'.

‘Many of them are malnourished and most have witnessed horrific events. Being removed from the support of their families at this point will have serious long-term consequences for their overall development.’ said Golubovic.

Julian Chellapa, operation manager of Save the Children who spoke to BBC Sandeshaya after visiting camps of the displaced in Vavuniya said that the government is in the process of working with UN and non governmental organizations to resolve the issue.