NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF) has welcomed the demobilization of 181 children -- 174 boys and seven girls -- from the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA), the ex-southern Sudan rebels who are now part of the Sudanese Government of National Unity.

    UNICEF said in a statement received here Tuesday the former child soldiers, whose release took place in Julud in the Nuba Mountains area of Sudan (Southern Kordofan), have been reunited with their families over the past two weeks.

    According to the UN agency, in addition to these 181 children formally released through the Southern Sudan Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Commission (SSDDRC), another 30 children went home earlier by themselves prior to the demobilization as they came from nearby locations.

    "The process of advocating for the release and registering these 211 boys and girls started back in February," explained Ted Chaiban, UNICEF representative in Sudan.

    "The children range from 10 to 18 years; they all lived and attended school in the military barracks of the SPLA for the past three to five years," Chaiban added.

    UNICEF has supported the demobilization of child soldiers throughout southern Sudan since 2000.

    The UN children's agency has also supported the establishment by the rebel SPLM/SPLA movements of a special task force to demobilize children in rebel ranks.

    "UNICEF is extremely pleased about this demobilization and thanks the SSDDRC for its collaboration," said Chaiban.

    "There are still more boys and girls who are associated with armed groups in Southern Kordofan and other areas of Sudan and we hope they too will return home soon," said UNICEF.

    "UNICEF has already registered another 80 in the Kauda area, and these children are ready to be released. We have also been informed of other children in Blue Nile State that will also be reunited with their families," the statement added.

    Since 2001, an estimated 20,000 children from the former southern rebel forces, the SPLA, have been disarmed and demobilized and returned to their families and communities with UNICEF support.

    However, the UN agency said there are an estimated 2,000 children still associated with the SPLA, mainly in non-combat roles and in hard-to-reach areas. Enditem