Committee Monitors Flood-Affected Areas in Rasuwa, Highlights Child Welfare Concerns

Kathmandu. The Education, Health and Information Technology Committee has conducted an on-site monitoring of flood-affected areas in Rasuwa. Committee Chairperson Ojaswi Sherchan stated that the condition of flood-affected children appeared critical during the on-site monitoring. She mentioned the need for the government's special attention to the immediate management of flood-affected children, as well as their long-term education, health, and psychosocial security. Although efforts were made to manage women, children, infants, and pregnant women in the holding centers by keeping their details, it was not sufficient, according to her. She stated that while management was good in some places, there was a problem with drinking water. She emphasized that the state should pay special attention to the mental health and education of flood-affected children. She mentioned that psychosocial counseling is necessary for children who have become orphaned due to the flood and are in a mentally sensitive state. Some holding centers were found to have volunteer mental health counselors providing services. She stated that it appears necessary to address the separate needs of nutrition, health, and education by creating age groups for children: up to three years, 3 to 6 years, 6 to 13 years, and 13 to 18 years. Providing information about the monitoring, she said, 'The issue of children is very complex. We have seen the situation by visiting the holding centers. While good management was found in some wards, the situation in some places was not completely satisfactory. In some places, efforts have been made to continue children's education by operating temporary learning centers. Children who have lost their parents due to the flood are in a more sensitive mental state, so they need psychosocial counseling.' Emphasizing the need for a long-term plan, she added, 'Temporary learning centers are only short-term solutions. In the long term, management should be done keeping in mind the different needs of nutrition, health, and education according to the age group of children. We will take further initiative to draw the government's attention to this matter.' She also informed that during the monitoring, the situation of sanitation and hygiene for menstruating women and new mothers in the affected areas was also inspected. Although mobile toilets and other arrangements were made in coordination with the federal government, local levels, and volunteers, she stated that the lack of drinking water was observed in some places. She said that the government should now bring a plan to permanently resettle the affected families in safe places, going beyond immediate relief and shelter. She suggested identifying safe places without flood and landslide risks and constructing organized settlements and schools there. It appears necessary to advance housing, education, health, and other basic infrastructure in an integrated manner in the resettlement plan. The committee also monitored flood-affected areas and holding centers in Nuwakot and Dhading to gather information about the condition of education, health, and information communication within its area of work. Committee Chairperson Sherchan stated that during the monitoring, information was gathered from officials of the District Disaster Management Committee, the Chief District Officer, local representatives, security agencies, and officials involved in rescue operations about the condition of the affected areas, immediate needs, and the work to be done by the government. Based on the data collected on-site and the actual situation, the committee is preparing to provide suggestions to the government for short-term and long-term resettlement. Her conclusion is that long-term resettlement appears more challenging than short-term relief management.