GENEVA, Jan 25, 2008 (AFP) - Sexual violence has soared in Kenya amid the country's ethnic clashes and political turmoil, with young women in refugee camps particularly vulnerable to rape and prostitution, the United Nations children's fund said on Friday.
UNICEF deplored the "tragedy of girls and women in the informal camps who trade sex for biscuits, protection, transportation, or are raped while trying to get to a latrine during the night," spokeswoman Veronique Taveau told journalists.
The Gender Violence Recovery Centre in the port city of Mombasa has reported that cases of sexual violence have doubled since last month's presidential elections, especially gang rapes of young girls and boys.
"There is a very high risk of the HIV/AIDS virus spreading" as many of the victims do not report the attacks, Taveau said.
Seven people were killed in clashes in western Kenyan, police said Friday, as former UN chief Kofi Annan pressed for dialogue between the country's feuding leaders.
Some 800 people have been killed in total and a quarter of a million forced to flee their homes after the December 27 presidential polls sparked bloody clashes between supporters of President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
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