Wednesday, May 17 2006 10:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New York: Despite a peace agreement between Sudan and the main insurgent group in its Darfur region, rebels continue to recruit people from camps in neighbouring Chad that shelter some 200,000 people who fled the country, the UN refugee agency has said.

"People who have fled the horrors of Darfur have already suffered enough," UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters here.

"It is totally unacceptable that refugee camps become recruiting grounds and that children under the age of 18 are victimised," he said.

In March this year, 4700 men and boys were forcibly or voluntarily recruited in Breidjing and Treguine refugee camps by rebel groups while Goz Amir camp was reportedly the scene of recruitment activities last month, Redmond said.

"We fear recruitment could also be spreading to other refugee sites in eastern Chad despite UNHCR's repeated appeals to the Chad government to ensure that the civilian character of refugee camps is maintained," he said.

"This is absolutely essential because there are reports indicating some local camp leaders and Chadians are condoning the recruitment," Redmond said.

UNHCR has had several high-level meetings with Chad authorities over the past two months stressing their obligations towards refugees under international law, he said.

Young refugees who managed to return to the camps said they were taken to training areas along the border and taught, among other things, how to clean weapons.

Several hundred men and boys from Breidjing and Treguine camps are reportedly still missing and are believed to be in training camps elsewhere.