From Relief to Recovery, Put Children First

Floods do not discriminate. They sweep away whatever lies in their path, sparing neither homes nor schools, rich nor poor. But rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction cannot be carried out without priorities. In disaster response, children must come first. The devastating Bhotekoshi floods and landslides have directly affected 19 schools in three severely impacted districts. According to government information, more than 200 students have gone missing, while teachers and students from several schools remain unaccounted for. The full extent of the damage is still being assessed. The immediate priority must be to locate and protect missing children, provide shelter to those who have lost their parents, and ensure that no child is deprived of education because of the disaster. Some children have lost their parents and homes. Others have been traumatized by the loss of family members, displacement, and destruction around them. For children who are still growing and developing, even a short interruption in education, care and emotional support can have lasting consequences. This is where local and provincial governments must take a much bigger responsibility. The federal government has an important role in mobilizing national resources, coordinating rescue and supporting reconstruction. But the responsibility for ensuring the day-to-day well-being of affected children should rest primarily with governments closest to them. Local governments know their communities, schools and families best. Provincial governments, meanwhile, have the resources and institutional capacity to support and coordinate local efforts. Local governments should immediately establish a reliable system to identify and register children who have lost parental care or are otherwise in need of protection. They should ensure that such children receive safe accommodation, food, healthcare, protection and continued education.