New reports out of Aceh indicate that children orphaned by the recent tsunamis that struck Asia late last month are now vulnerable to being kidnapped by human slave traders. UNICEF has started registering some of the estimated 35,000 orphans to reduce the risk of them being sold by people who abduct and sell human beings. Indonesian authorities also posted police guards at refugee camps to protect children staying there.

A spokesman for UNICEF said that this was the 'perfect opportunity' for traffickers to kidnap children and sell them as slaves. They are often sold for the sex trade in neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. A message was reportedly being sent around Malaysia offering 300 orphans from Aceh for illegal adoption.

John Budd of UNICEF explained, 'I don't think you could have a more vulnerable child on earth than a child in this situation,' Mr Budd said. 'A young child who has gone through what they have witnessed will be barely surviving in terms of psychological health.'

'Our concern here is ... whether these children are frankly turned into child slaves, if you will, or abused and exploited. They could be put to work - domestic labour, sex trade, a whole series of potential abuses,' said Unicef's director, Carol Bellamy.

Authorties in the area remain on alert to try to stop the sale of orphans as slaves.