Children

In Burma (Myanmar) cyclone Nargis’s death toll has reached some 134,000 people dead or missing, one third of which may be children according to UNICEF. Thousands more young children are expected to die within two to three weeks from hunger if doesn’t reach them soon according to Save the Children. According to Save the Children, an estimated 30,000 children under the age of five in the cyclone-affected Irrawaddy Delta were already acutely malnourished before the cyclone hit on May 2, and thus would already be suffering from aggravated conditions of malnutrition. Undocumented numbers of children have also been left orphans by the cyclones destruction, more than 600 are estimated thus far, leaving the military junta to work with UNICEF and the Red Cross to set up orphanages for cyclone orphans(AP).

The World Bank is working to coordinate international aid for cyclone-hit country from The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and is ready to deploy teams to do damage assessments, Sarah Cliffe, Director of World Bank Operations for East Asia and the Pacific, said on May 20. The goal is to get humanitarian aid to victims, however the military government in Myanmar has said it won’t allow Western aid unfettered access to disaster areas.

The stonewalling of the government has left the European Parliament is threatening to bring the military regime before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. It will vote on May 22 on whether to charge the government with crimes against humanity, Radio Netherlands reported. Thus far only small portion of aid has been able to get through to the 2.5 million people affected by the cyclone. On May 23rd in a deal negotiated by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and junta supremo Than Shwe, it was agreed to let in “all” aid workers regardless of their nationality (Reuters). However within days aid efforts were already appearing to be stonewalled, nonetheless some aid efforts have been able to seep in and thus many are hopeful that the block on aid will quickly dissolve (Reuters).

One can only hope that the aid will not be too late for the thousands of Burmese children who have been left in extreme cases of hunger and nourishment as a result of both the cyclone and the bureaucracy that followed.

Twenty-four cities from Atlanta to Tel Aviv to Bangkok have agreed to turn off their lights for one hour on March 29 to draw attention to global warming. Organizers said more cities may join the event and that some 30 million people may participate (Associated Press). In related news UN officials say Human rights threatened by global warming

Central Mozambique is recovering from its worst-ever flood, emergency workers are trying to contain an outbreak of cholera, affecting more than 600 people in Mutarara district, Tete province, leaving ten people dead. ActionAid is working with the government and ngos to improve hygiene in resettlement camps, 100,000 have been evacuated, where many still live in tents or simple shelters.

Bolivia has officially declared a natural disaster, as more than 60,000 families affected by heavy flooding. Many have been rescued and taken to camps, hundreds are suffering from waterborne diseases and acute diarrhea. An estimated 52 people have died, eight are missing and more than 616,000 hectares of crops destroyed as rivers burst their banks (Plan UK).

In Haiti ensuring adequate nutrition for children younger than two is more beneficial than intervening with food assistance after young children show signs of malnourishment, according to a study published this month by the Lancet, a leading medical journal. The study compared the impact of two approaches implemented by US government-funded World Vision programs in Haiti. Researchers found that indicators of malnutrition - stunting, wasting and underweight - were 4% to 6% lower in communities participating in preventive programs, than those that which used recuperative approaches. (ReliefWeb)

In Indonesia poverty in the tsunami struck region of Aceh has fallen below the pre-disaster level, a new World Bank report shows, due to both peace and the large reconstruction effort. The Aceh Poverty Assessment 2008 report shows poverty in Aceh increased slightly in the aftermath of the tsunami, from 28.4% in 2004 to 32.6% in 2005. However, the poverty rate fell again in 2006 to 26.5%, below the pre-tsunami level, suggesting that the short lived rise was due to reconstruction activities. Despite any improvements, poverty in Aceh remains significantly higher than in the rest of Indonesia, with more than 30% of rural households below the poverty line, compared to less than 15% in urban areas.

Last week, on February 12th, UNICEF issued a press release urging donors to give some $856 million to aid women and children and women who have been victimized by such emergencies as the conflicts in Chad and Kenya, to natural disasters such as the floods in Mozambique. Launching its Humanitarian Action Report 2008, UNICEF stated that the funds are to be used to provide urgent assistance in the areas of health, education and nutrition.

There are a number of countries in urgent need of assistance including; Kenya where there are some 150,000 children, half of the estimated population that have been driven from their homes in the recent violence. In Chad there is an estimated 30,000 of those forced from their homes, some 52,000, who are vulnerable, many of which are children and in need of immediate assistance. Other countries with considerable needs are the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), the CAR (Central African Republic), Pakistan and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea.

However the greatest needs still remains in Sudan, where sexual and gender-based violence remains an immense concern as the number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) continues to rise. There are some 2 million IDPs in Sudan, leaving camps stretched beyond capacity and aid agencies battling to meet the needs of those displaced as the conflict continues after nearly 5 years.

In reaction to the 230 page reports release, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, stated in a message to the Governing Council of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome on February 13th that efforts must be greatly increased to tackle poverty, especially in the realm of agriculture.

“This must be the year the international community renews its commitment to the needs of the weak, the disadvantaged, those who have been excluded from the mainstream of global society.”

Repeating his request that 2008 be the year that the international community seriously and effectively seeks to address the plight of the “bottom billion”, the poorest of the world’s poor.

Human rights organization Amnesty International has called for an end to forced evictions in Cambodia. Thousands of families have already been moved from their homes in the center of the capital Phnom Penh, and more evictions are set to follow. The authorities say this is a necessary part of Cambodia’s development. But in its report Amnesty disputes this, and says there has been a lack of accountability and consultation with local communities. Members of threatened communities from across Phnom Penh are fighting on, although their homes may soon be reduced to rubble. (BBC)

Hundreds of schools closed, roads were empty and shops were shuttered in districts in Nepal’s southern plains on Feb. 13 at the start of a strike by ethnic Madheshi groups to press for regional autonomy. Violent ethnic protests in the region last year claimed at least 45 lives, throwing a shadow over Nepal’s peace process after a decade-long civil war with Maoist rebels ended in 2006. Three Madheshi groups, saying they represent the dominant ethnic community of the fertile Terai plains, have called the indefinite strike aimed at blocking roads to Kathmandu and other hilly areas of landlocked Nepal. (Reuters)

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply concerned about the growing number of civilian casualties, including children, resulting from the deteriorating security situation across Sri Lanka. Since the beginning of this year, the ICRC has observed an increase in the number of civilians killed or injured in targeted and/or indiscriminate attacks. In the first six weeks of 2008, more than 180 civilians were reported killed and almost 270 injured in a series of attacks on civilian buses, railway stations and individuals in Colombo, Dambula, Kebhitigollewa, Madhu, Okkampitiya and Welli Oya. (ICRC)

An independent UN expert Feb. 13 hailed progress in Saudi Arabia on advancing the status of women but urged more action to prevent gender-based violence and raise their profile in public life. “Women of Saudi Arabia, in full respect of their societal values, appear ready to embark on a new stage of engagement in contributing to the advancement of their society and that of the coming generations of women and men,” the Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Yakin Erturk, said in a statement after visiting the country from Feb. 4-13. (UN News)

Severe flooding caused by weeks of heavy rain is now known to have left 48 people dead and some 40,000 families homeless, authorities in Bolivia say. Two rivers in one of the worst-hit provinces, Beni, have broken their banks and are threatening to cut off the main city in the region, Trinidad. The government has declared a state of emergency and launched relief efforts. Among the worst-hit areas are the eastern provinces of Beni and Santa Cruz as well as Cochabamba in central Bolivia. Several thousand people have been moved from areas at risk in Beni. (BBC)

Sexually transmitted diseases have spread so widely in some Aboriginal communities that mass treatment without individual testing, even for children as young as 10, is the only way to fight the problem, according to a medical paper published Feb. 4. The authors of the paper in The Medical Journal of Australia, Dr. Frank Bowden and Dr. Katherine Fethers, contend that the traditional method of screening and treating people individually is not working because patients often move on before their test results have been returned and because of a lack of resources. (NYT)

Afghanistan has fallen off the radar for many in the wake of the ongoing war in Iraq, however the struggle in Afghanistan is far from over. Rebuilding after a war, and years of repression, is never easy, especially for the children. The children of Afghanistan have been born into hardship, they dream of prosperity, and they continue to suffer needlessly as the remnants of war remain. The fight for adequate housing, healthcare and education are not the only struggle in post war Afghanistan, but children are also suffering from preventable diseases, landmines, and mother nature.

Too many young children dying of preventable diseases, as some 600 children under five die every day in Afghanistan due to pneumonia, poor nutrition, diarrhea and other preventable diseases, according to the State of the World’s Children 2008, which was released by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF). While the country has made substancial improvements to the healthcare system, they have the 3rd highest infant mortality rate, and has the 2nd highest maternal mortality rate, in the world. While these figures are high, the child mortality rate in the country has dropped 25% since 2001, due to an increase to 80% of basic health services for citizens.

One of the most dangerous remnants of war that plague the children of Afghanistan are the landmines that are scattered across the country, hidden from plain site. Children are at high risk for landmine death or injury, and with injuries comes another battle in a country with an already weak healthcare infrastructure, as some 95% of landmine injuries result in disability. According to the UN Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA) landmines have killed 143 and wounded another 438 people in 2007 alone. The 2007 figures are down from 2006 when 124 where killed 124 and 697 wounded, however they remain too high and demining must be made a higher priority. The use of landmines by rebel factions is high due to their inexpensive nature as the report, Laying Landmines to Rest? Humanitarian Mine Action, shows that conventional anti-personnel landmines cost a mere $3 to $27 to produce, and according to the UK Mine Information and Training Centre (MITC), clearing these mines costs the international community $300-$1,000 per mine. Therefore

Sadly this winter has not been a friend to the the Afghans, as the cold-snap deaths top 300 (note, as of January 29th death toll rises over 500), as heavy snows have pounded much of the country over the last month. Most of the reported deaths have been children, and the death toll is expected to rise as the harsh weather continues. Most of those severely effected live in rural areas, with little to no access to healhcare, which is a major concern as children are more susceptible to cold related diseases such as pneumonia.

All of the factors heavily impact a child’s access to education, with attendence in schools remaining low, according to UNICEF attendence from 2000-2006 was estimated at 40% for females and 66% for males at the primary level and only 6% for females and 18% for males at the secondary level.

Therefore one can easily see that these are major concerns for the long term future of Afghan children and the sustainability of the country on the whole. Thus we must not leave the children of Afghanistan in the shadows of war, but increase our aid efforts and bring the continuing struggles of the innocent children to the forefront.

It has been a month since the deadly cyclone hit Bangladesh, leaving families still searching and hoping for the return of the missing, which are estimated around 900 people still missing, mainly women and children.

“The sea took my baby,” one young mother said, recalling in vivid detail how she clung to a tree holding her daughter’s shirt in her mouth like a mother lioness - only to have her ripped away within seconds. “I can’t find her anywhere,” she lamented (Plight of cyclone missing continues).

Hundreds where orphaned by Cyclone Sidr, as it took more than 3,000 lives, leaving an told number of children parentless and to deal with the aftermath alone.

“I lost everyone, I don’t know what to do or where to go,” Mohammad Hasan, 12, said as he stood outside his home.

According to UNICEF some 8.5 million people where affected, approximately half of which where children. With an estimated half a million under the age of five affected, concerns have been raised as children are now at high risk for trafficking. In response UNICEF has set up special protection programs for some 20,000 at risk children, however more programs and resources need to be put into place to ensure the safety of the children, especially the girls who are at greater risk for trafficking and exploitation.

The recovery from Cyclone Sidr looks to remain slow, and more aid is greatly needed to assist in the recovery and rebuilding efforts.  More medical assistance, educational programs, physiological support, and protection programs remain in dire need for the children of Bangladesh. Despite any increases in aid, the effects of Cyclone Sidr look to be long lasting, and the ones who need the most attention and time to recover are the children.

Three years ago today as many of us sat with family and friends, enjoying the end of the Christmas holiday, an unpredicted tsunami struck South Asia, leaving nothing but destruction and death in it’s wake. In remembrance to the estimated 230,000 people from 13 countries, who lost their lives on that unforgettable day, many memorial and remembrance ceremonies where held across the globe today.

Sadly the effects of that devastating day linger on, many children and their families are still unable to escape the detrimental after effects of the disaster. While some $13.6 billion has been estimated donated thus far, many local communities have seen little assistance in getting their lives and homes back to normal, and children are most often the hardest hit.

In the wake of the tsunami many children where left orphans, placing them at risk for trafficking networks, which prey on vulnerable children, who sell children forced labor or sexual slavery. Aid agencies and governments have took numerous steps to see that children where protected, and many safeguard systems where put into place. Education was also a source for concern, as the rebuilding of schools has been slow, but education remains a priority and schools continue to provide stability and hope for the future.

While considerable progress has been made in areas such as health, nutrition, education, and protection, children in the tsunami effected regions continue to remain at risk, as the rebuilding and recovery continues. The three year aniversiry of the tsunami serves not only as a reminder to remember those whom lost their lives, but those who survived and continue to need the international communities help to recover and develop sustainable programs to ensure their futures are never again uprooted in such a devastating way.

Related News Articles and Links:
Three Year UNICEF Tsunami Anniversary Monitoring Report
Commemorations held in Thailand for 3rd anniversary of tsunami
People mark the three-year anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami at a memorial in Khao
Mourners Mark Three Year Anniversary Of Worst Known Tsunami In History
BBC
The Christian Science Monitor
Tsunami Children Lost, Vulnerable
In Pictures: Children’s tsunami art
Tsunami Children Foundation
Tsunami Children - CNN Photo’s
Children of Tsunami
UNICEF Newsline on the Tsunami

As the plight of children around the world seems not to be lessening, and one easily struggles to bring you the all the stories related to children’s rights around the globe. I wanted to leave you with a list of recent article headlines and links, especially as I have been unable to post for a few days. I felt it better you are informed in some small way, instead of letting all the headlines go unnoticed by myself.

It is sadly quite easy to be overrun with news wires and headlines regarding the rights of and abuses against children, and by the time I begin to post again there will be a plethora of events and news of which I will not be able to fully cover. Therefore I apologize that I am unable to provide you with a summary of all the recent news on a regular basis, as it is a daunting chore and just not practical.

BANGLADESH: Cyclone death toll likely to climb, as the November 15th Cyclone, which recent estimates where as high as 3,000, devastation continues to be felt.

YEMEN: Efforts to reduce rising number of female qat chewers - Qat/Quat, also referred to as Khat, a plant stimulant, can lead to malnutrition, low birth weight and have other effects on the unborn. Approximately 70% of women in Yemen are Quat chewers.

AFGHANISTAN: Oxfam calls for aid to be more effective, transparent

SWAZILAND: Declare HIV/AIDS a “humanitarian emergency”

BANGLADESH: Primary-school dropout rate rises to 47 percent

PAKISTAN: Opposition to anti-polio drive weakens

SOUTH AFRICA: President ‘failed on Aids’

HAITI: Haitians plan to vaccinate every child

RUSSIA: Study Finds 37.4% HIV Prevalence Among Street Youth

IRAQ: Two die of cholera in Baghdad orphanage

AFGHANISTAN: Six million schoolchildren to receive landmine coaching

PAKISTAN: Final push in measles campaign

TURKMENISTAN: Vaccination drive targets three million people

DRC-UGANDA: Cholera prompts evacuation of Lake Albert island

PAKISTAN: Opposition to anti-polio drive weakens

DRC-RWANDA: Putting the past behind them - former child soldiers prepare to go home

In South Africa the battle against HIV/AIDS looks not to be a battle won, but a battle lost. UNICEF’s South Africa representative Macharia Kamau said that infection and death rates in the are outweighing the rate of treatment. The ones paying the highest price for this lost race, are the children whose parents are rapidly dying of Aids, therefore leaving a devastating image for the futture. Kamau said if this trend continues, some five million orphans may plauge South Africa by 2015. (BBC)

For the first time the World Food Program (WFP) has been forced to air drop food in Uganda following the worst flooding in 35 years. In a statement issued on October 16, the WFP said the operation was a desperate last resort to help tens of thousands of people after flooding washed away vital roads. The agency said it urgently needs around USD 20 million for food and trucks to transport September rations to around 250,000 people. (Reuters)

Suspected pedophile targeted has been arrested in Thailand, the Canadian was targeted in global manhunt, thanks to efforts to unscramble digital images. The arrested was Christopher Paul Neil, a schoolteacher who was under suspicion of sexually abusing Cambodian and Vietnamese boys. The capture of Neil was in thanks to both to border guards in Thailand and neighboring countries, who remained on high alert, after immigration cameras captured Neil arriving at Bangkok’s international airport last Thursday from South Korea. (AP)

The Lebanese government must do more to alleviate the miserable conditions of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon who are treated like “second-class citizens,” Amnesty International said on October 17. In a report “Exiled and Suffering: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon,” the London-based human rights group said the refugees face discrimination in education, jobs, health care and housing. More than half the 400,000 registered Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in 12 cramped, squalid and often unsanitary camps scattered across the country. (Reuters)

Too many babies die in South Africa according to the report, ‘Saving Babies 2003-2005′, conducted by the Medical Research Council (MRC). MRC’s study revealed that, “every year almost 23,000 South African babies die in their first month of life, yet one in five of these deaths could be avoided with better education, and relatively inexpensive and easily implemented changes in healthcare.” In the last two years little has been done to improve the situation, therefore one can only hope that with the results of the report, prenatal and postnatal education will be increased, and the infant mortality rate will begin to decline.

In Bangladesh, over 4,000 primary schools have been closed by floods. Sever flooding has effected many countries this year, and Bangladesh, like all other flood ravished countries, are now struggling to ensure that children have access to an education. When schools, especially in rural areas, are closed, children have little recourse to seek alternative educational options. Many schools remain partially underwater, leaving stagnate waters that would place children at risk of disease and drowning are large factors in the prevention of access to schools. “There has been a 20 percent drop in attendance.”, however local governments and aid agencies are searching for interim solutions, in addition to more sustainable options when repairs and rebuilding begins.

In Guinea the Cholera epidemic is multiplying despite intense efforts to curb the disease. “Almost 1,800 people have been affected by a cholera outbreak in Guinea which has caused 67 deaths, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Conakry.”

Millennium celebrations to target malaria control to begin in Ethiopia on the 12th of September. Celebrations will begin with the 20 million treated mosquito bed nets being delivered to families free of charge. The use of such nets, can dramatically reduce malaria, when used correctly and regularly, with replacements as needed. “Malaria is responsible for 40 percent of an estimated 344,000 deaths among children under five years.”