The Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Commission (DDRC) in Lakes State on Tuesday conducted verification of children associated with the armed forces in Panda Military Barracks in Rumbek.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday, the director of the DDRC in Lakes State Meen Mawut said the commission has confirmed that there are 13 children associated with armed forces in Panda Military Barracks. 

"We conducted verification of children associated with armed forces on Tuesday and we found 13 children in Panda Military Barracks," Mawut said. "These children were not recruited by the military to the army. But they voluntarily associated themselves with the army for their personal needs. Some of them join the army to get food." 

Mawut added that after the verification exercise, the commission will submit a report to the national DDRC in Juba and the children found there will be registered. 

He urged the army not to recruit children or accept those who come to the barracks on their own saying it is illegal. 

The exercise conducted by the DDRC was attended and witnessed by UNMISS, UNICEF, Save the Children International, and Plan International.