Nepal: children’s voices three months on
Three months ago Nepal was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake, followed by a second earthquake 17 days later. In total, 8,856 people were killed and 22,309 injured. Now, with monsoon season gathering pace, an estimated 2.8 million people are still in need of humanitarian assistance.
Yesterday we launching a report with Plan International, Unicef and World Vision, called After the earthquake: Nepal’s children speak out, to ensure children’s voices are heard and their needs are at the forefront of the humanitarian response.
The report highlights children’s fears and insecurities about living in tents and overcrowded shelters, the risks to their health from unsanitary conditions and their future if they can’t return to school.
Children also spoke of the importance of being better prepared for future disasters and the need to build earthquake-resistant homes and buildings.
Drawing experience
One of the tools the report researchers used to capture children’s views was ‘expressive drawing’.
Children drew their experiences and the future they want to see, and then discussed their pictures in small groups. Through this the researchers were able to understand what the biggest issues and problems affecting children in the aftermath of the earthquake are, and what solutions children think will protect them from future earthquakes.
Some of the drawings from the research below:
What we’ve done
Since the onset of the crisis, thanks to our supporters’ donations, we’ve reached more than 427,000 people through our response, including more than 173,000 children.
We’ve set up 270 Temporary Learning Centres, screened 38,953 children for malnutrition, and reached 4,823 children through 61 child-friendly spaces.
We’ve also provided temporary shelters in some of the worst affected areas, supported the construction and rehabilitation of sanitation facilities, and trained communities to construct buildings resilient to earthquakes.
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