Thousands of children at risk as monsoon season approaches

THOUSANDS of child survivors from the Nepal earthquake last year are at risk during monsoon season unless permanent homes and schools are built.

The warning comes from Plan, the global children’s rights charity, who have been at the forefront of relief efforts in Nepal since the twin earthquake struck on 25 April 2015 and 12 May at a magnitude of 7.8 and 7.2.

Nepal suffers from extraordinary poverty. The earthquakes affected 8 million people, devastating communities and killing over 4,000 people. In the aftermath 1.4 million people were in need of emergency aid.

In the past year, Plan has helped over 250,000 people with emergency aid including temporary shelters, clean water and food. It has also supported communities with over 300 temporary classrooms. 

But, ongoing delays with the implementation of new government construction standards and the recent fuel crisis has left many children and their families living in temporary shelters at risk from forthcoming monsoon floods.

Children, especially girls, are at increased risk of exploitation, trafficking and child marriage if they are not attending schools. The earthquake also left 1 million children unable to attend school. Maya, 16, is just one of these girls. She lost her home and school due to the earthquakes. She explains why getting an education is so vital for her development.

With the help of Plan, Maya and her family are rebuilding their home and she will soon be taking her final year exams. “Education is important to me, and my family understand that.

As a girl, you already face a lot of barriers. It is better to focus on your own goals and complete your studies,” she says.

Her family were also supported by Plan during the freezing winter with insulation material for their temporary home, blankets and warm clothing. Her father in law says, “I want to rebuild my home, but I do not want it to compromise my children’s education.”

Plan are calling for the Nepalese government to give them the go ahead so that permanent structures can be put in place as soon as possible.

Tanya Barron, Chief Executive of Plan UK, says: “We support the need to develop, and enforce, construction standards to ensure this scale of destruction does not happen again, but we nonetheless need to underscore the urgency in rebuilding schools and getting children back into safe, permanent classrooms.”

“Tens of thousands of children have already spent a winter in temporary classrooms and if permanent facilities are not built soon, children will have to spend the coming monsoon season, and possibly even a second winter, in these same basic weathered structures.

“We are ready to start building permanent homes and schools, but we need the go ahead from government to ensure families and children are protected over the coming monsoon season.

Plan has been working in Nepal since 1978. Over the next two years, Plan aims to support  325,000 people by rebuilding the lives of communities still recovering from the earthquake.