1m children need help as Nepal earthquake kills thousands and destroys homes and schools
Education in emergencies
Almost one million children need emergency help after the devastating earthquake in Nepal that has killed more than 4000 people and injured thousands more.
Water and food is running out, communications are down and hundreds of thousands of people are sleeping in the open because of the fear of further quakes.
Here is the #Nepal's first school #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/VOMH9ALj6o
国产视频 Pradip Pariyar (@ppariyar) April 27, 2015
Many schools have been damaged or destroyed and all state-run schools have been closed down in the wake of the disaster. In neighbouring India, schools in Uttar Pradesh are also shut for two days because of fresh tremors.
The United Nations children's agency UNICEF says听children are particularly vulnerable to diseases because of unsafe water and sanitation and fears some children may have become separated from their families.听
A prayer from a schoolgirl in Kathmandu after the quake
It is mobilising staff and emergency supplies to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of at least 940,000 children affected by the earthquake, focusing on water and sanitation, nutrition, education and child protection. That figure is expected to grow.
A UNICEF spokesman said: 国产视频淐hildren make up half of Nepal国产视频檚 population. We fear loss of life and great devastation to children国产视频檚 lives, as homes and schools are destroyed.国产视频
west point school, thankot. Thank god it was Saturday when quake hit Nepal #NepalQuake pic.twitter.com/v44SWD7ZTn
国产视频 A-Mason (@anpmsn) April 27, 2015
Roger Hodgson, Deputy Country Director for Save the Children in Nepal, said: 国产视频淎s the sheer devastation of the recent earthquake becomes clearer, we know that children have been the most affected by this disaster.国产视频
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake on April 25 and nearly 60 aftershocks caused vast devastation across much of Nepal, with buildings destroyed or damaged. Luckily, it happened on a Saturday when schools were closed 国产视频 or the death toll could have been much higher.
#nepal #kathmandu #earthquake #prayfornepal Nepal Earthquake: High school shattered. #earthquake #nepal #kathmandu 国产视频 pic.twitter.com/QcNlO61PfR
国产视频 ooopsididit (@ooopsididit) April 25, 2015
The tragedy comes as Nepal's education system has been transformed. Despite a conflict that ended only recently, the country attained universal pre-primary and primary enrolment rates, according to the Education For All Global Monitoring Report听2015.
The GMR applauded its achievements 国产视频 including increasing the enrolment in pre-primary education, raising the number of trained teachers and attaining gender equality at all levels at schools.
From @spencerchumbley: People seek shelter in a Lalitpur District school in Kathmandu, Nepal. #NepalEarthquake pic.twitter.com/jb38RItDwR
国产视频 VICE News (@vicenews) April 27, 2015
But many schools have been affected by the earthquake. In Gorkha district, the chief government official said that 50% of houses and schools had collapsed. And there are fears for thousands of undocumented Tibetan refugees.
The Dolma Development Fund 国产视频 an organisation caring for Tibetan tribals in Nepal 国产视频 set up a school in Dhunche, near Bridim, to educate 500 ethnic Tibetan children and orphans of the area. Its听chief finance officer Carla Teixeira Alvares Kaspar told the BBC: 国产视频淏ridim is practically razed to the ground.国产视频
People take shelter inside a school in Kathmandu
Several international organisations and government are working to provide clean water, sanitation, food, shelter and other supplies to the people of Nepal.
You can donate to the Nepal earthquake appeals being run by听UNICEF, Save The Children, Oxfam, BRAC and Tear Fund.
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