Submitted by crinadmin on
Two years have passed since the devastating earthquake in Pakistan on 8 October 2005. But survivors are not any better off than they were last year, according to the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC). At the onset of the third winter since the disaster, thousands of families are still confined to tents, which suggests the Government’s promises of a home has not become a reality. The region’s infrastructure will take years to fully recover, and getting children back into the classroom will also. Tented schools, damaged school buildings are still in use. These tented schools are too hot to work in the summer. Moreover, risk to life is a major factor in dilapidated school buildings. Executive Director Mr Qindeel Shujaat said that “it is important there is transparency and monitoring in the rehabilitation of the earthquake areas. While at the same time we must see whether we are taking measures to safeguard life and property from such an eventuality in the future”. “Every passing season, especially the early arrival of winter, brings more hardships for already vulnerable children’s. With the packing up of temporary health facilities, the Ministry of Health faces the challenge of providing much needed medical facilities to the survivors. Many children with amputated limbs are still waiting for prosthetics”, said Ms Asiya Arif, Promotion Officer SPARC. After two years, the picture is still grim for the children who survived the destruction and devastation. Protection policies should be put in place, the adoption ban should be lifted and orphaned children should be taken care of by the community and institutional care should be the last resort. More and more children are joining the labour force. Attempts must be made to keep track of these children and put them back into schools. It is important for the Government agencies and the NGOs working in the area to realise that children have paid the heaviest price for this natural catastrophe and they need help immediately.