Thailand's southernmost unrest during the past five years has resulted in almost 3,000 child orphans, a senior social development and human security official said here on Thursday, the website by Bangkok Post reported.

Thailand's deep South comprises mainly the three southernmost provinces of Yala, Pattani, Narathiwas, and some parts of Songkla province.

Over 3,500 people have been killed by the daily violence attack by the suspected separatists since January 2004.

Since the insurgency has renewed from 2004, a total of 2,897 children have been orphaned, Suparerk Hongpakdi, director of the Office of Women and Family Affairs said.

The number of orphans had increased sharply from 1,425 in January 2007 to 2,897 at ending June, showing that the violence had intensified in the previous 30 months, he said.

Suparerk said the deep South's violent escalation has left some542 women widows in Pattani, with 502 in Yala, 439 in Narathiwat and 69 in Songkhla.

Source: Xinhua