The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare is busy in collecting details of women, children, elderly people, the disabled, new mothers and expectant mothers affected by the recent major earthquake .
So far 2,023 children have been confirmed dead in the devastations surrounding the April 25 earthquake and its powerful aftershocks, as per the preliminary details made available by the Ministry. Of them, 986 are boys and 1,044 are girls. Identities of four are yet to be established. Likewise, the number of the injured children has been counted at 876 and some 200 have lost mothers and 112 lost their fathers.
Of the disaster-hit districts, Sindhupalchowk alone accounts for child death toll of 1,092 and there is only one case of child death in Ramechhap, said Ministry Spokesperson and Joint-Secretary Narayan Prasad Kafle.
When asked about the government plan about the rehabilitation of the children deprived of parental care due to the earthquake , Ministry Under-Secretary and Child Protection Development Division Dr Kiran Rupakheti said the first priority will be to get them adjusted with their relatives and, putting them under government protection will be second option only if they show reluctance to stay with kin.
Parents/guardians have been requested not leave their children alone as they can feel insecure and traumatised in the absence of parents after the major quake.
Besides, national and international non government organisations associated with the Social Welfare Council have been suggested come up with programmes targeting the welfare of women, children and aged citizens hit by the earthquake .
The ministry is alert to possibility of sexual harassments against girls and women in the group and open life after the disaster and has launched awareness programmes in various districts. Temporary shelters have been arranged for single women, new mothers and pregnant women displaced from home by the earthquake . Besides, it has been running psycho- counseling classes in the open for women, children and elderly citizens suffering earthquake trauma. RSS
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