Ebola, putting young lives on lockdown

New research conducted by Plan International has shown the impact of Ebola on the lives of children and young people in some parts of West Africa.

The study, which focuses on young people from communities in Liberia – one of the worst-affected countries – shows that the collapse of medical services, closure of schools, rising numbers of orphans, loss of livelihood and food shortages have all compounded the current crisis, turning it into a humanitarian catastrophe.

More than 740 children, parents and community leaders took part. The release of the report, entitled Young Lives on Lockdown, highlights the impact Ebola is having on communities and particularly on children.

Two million children affected

More than 2 million children in Liberia have been directly or indirectly affected by Ebola. As well as the possibility of infection with the virus, they face a greater risk of neglect, exploitation and emotional harm, particularly those who have been orphaned or have lost their carers.

Many young people are shouldering the additional burden of responsibility for other family members. “I am caring for my young siblings and even for my father, as a mother, since I lost my mother to Ebola,” said a young girl from Nimba.

Sexual abuse and child marriage

There are concerns among communities that girls are especially vulnerable. Because of Ebola, schools are closed and it is difficult to find work or food. This means that many girls in West Africa are being forced or coerced into transactional sex just to survive. As a result, teenage pregnancies have spiked, and rates of child marriage have also increased.

Stigmatised survivors

Additionally, children who have lost immediate family members are being stigmatised. Communities say that some orphans and single-parent children are joining the already high number of street children in their fight for survival as they resort to begging.

“Because our parents don’t have money we are not eating well. Most of us eat once a day and the food is not even enough,” said a child from Montserrado.

Emergency response

Plan International is on the ground fighting the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. The  response includes raising public awareness on how Ebola is transmitted, and preventive measures people can take to control the spread of the deadly disease.

Plan is also providing counselling for children affected by  Ebola and is reaching out to orphans and vulnerable children by providing transit centres and eventually reuniting them with their relatives or foster families.