Berlin, June 22 (RHC)-- The UN children's agency, UNICEF, said in a report that refugee children in Germany lack access to school for months.  The report said youngsters need better protection from abuse in large shelters, adding that their stays in the shelters need to be reduced.

Refugee children, traumatized by war and violence, need special protection and care, not less than their German peers, UNICEF said.  Christian Schneider, the UNICEF chief in Germany, said that "all children have equal rights, no matter where they are from, which community they belong to and which legal status they have."

The UN children’s agency has previously warned that child refugees are forced into crime and prostitution in France.  It adds that the majority of the missing and unaccompanied minors were from Afghanistan, Syria, Eritrea, Morocco and Algeria.

In February, the EU police agency, Europol, said more than 10,000 unaccompanied refugee children have gone missing after arriving in Europe over the past 18-24 months.  Several members of the European Parliament said in late May that missing underage refugees might be victims of criminal organizations involved in sex, slavery or organ trafficking.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, who are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.  Many blame major European powers for the unprecedented exodus, saying their policies have led to a surge in terrorism and war.