CRC/C/15/Add.237 page 15 8. Special protection measures Refugee/internally displaced children 64. The Committee notes that a large number of returnees from Bangladesh to northern Rakhine State have gone back to their villages of origin, but is concerned that some 850,000 Muslim residents in northern Rakhine State and large numbers of persons of Chinese or Indian descent throughout the country remain stateless, making it impossible for children of these families to benefit from the provisions and principles of the Convention. The Committee is further concerned at the very high number of children and their families who were internally displaced in Myanmar and that many were forced to seek asylum in neighbouring countries owing to the armed insurgencies taking place in various parts of Myanmar. 65. In light of articles 7, 22 and other relevant provisions of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the necessary measures to allow children and their families who have returned to Myanmar and who are stateless to acquire Myanmar citizenship by way of naturalization; (b) Strengthen its efforts to provide adequate assistance to internally displaced children, including their access to food, education and health, and to support the return home of internally displaced populations and their reintegration into their communities; (c) Prevent situations which force children and their families to leave Myanmar; (d) Ratify the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons; and (e) Work closely in this regard with UNHCR and UNICEF. Child soldiers/children affected by armed conflict 66. The Committee welcomes the establishment of the Committee for the Prevention of the Recruitment of Child Soldiers, but is deeply concerned at the direct and indirect impact of the armed conflicts on children in the State party. In particular, the Committee is extremely concerned at the use of children below the age of 15 years as soldiers by both the governmental armed forces and the armed groups as has repeatedly been reported, notably in the last report of the Secretary-General on children and armed conflict (A/58/546-S/2003/1053 and Corr.1 and 2). The Committee is also concerned at the military training provided to pupils attending the Nyunt Youth Programme, which could potentially lead to the militarization of children. 67. In light of articles 34 and 38 and other related articles of the Convention, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Strengthen its efforts to end the armed conflict and to ensure that the protection and promotion of children’s rights are given due consideration in any peace negotiations;