Kathmandu : A year after Nepal was jolted with devastating earthquake, various international organisations working for the rights of children have raised their concerns over the present living conditions of quake-affected children in the country.
A joint statement issued by five organisations – Plan International, Save the Children, Terre des hommes, The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and World Vision – underlined the need of child protection and safeguarding, along with psycho-social support in the reconstruction efforts.
Highlighting that 680 children from the quake-affected districts have the possibility of fear and trauma, the five organisations requested the stakeholders to provide educational services within their reach.
“All children have the right to grow up in a safe and protective environment. We hope the concerns of the children affected by this tragedy will be better taken care of in the recovery and reconstruction phase of the earthquake response,” the Himalayan Times quoted Plan International Nepal’s Country Director Mattias Bryneson as saying.
The statement also said that around 50 percent of the children in their contact informed them of their fear of thieves and wild animals entering their houses, of sleeping outside and being trafficked or forced into labour. According to the statement, 23 percent of children do not even sleep well suffering from post-traumatic stress.
The statement additionally read that the children, who participated in the consultation held in collaboration with the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development and Central Child Welfare Board during the end of February this year to assess the post-earthquake situation of children, expressed their desire to be consulted further.
A research paper titled “Children’s voices, children’s rights: one year after the Nepal earthquake” that outlines the situation of children in Nepal was also released today.
As many as 9,000 people were killed in 7.8-magnitude earthquake that took place on April 25 last year. (ANI)