Minister Sita Badi Urges Mandatory Recommendation for Child Relocation from Flood-Affected Areas

Kathmandu. Minister for Women, Children, Gender and Social Security, Sita Badi, has urged for mandatory recommendations when taking children from flood-affected areas elsewhere. Speaking at a meeting of the Women and Social Affairs Committee on Friday, she urged social organizations to take children elsewhere only with the coordination and recommendation of local child welfare officers and the National Child Rights Council. She stated that it is necessary to keep records of children as there is a risk of child trafficking. She informed that check posts have been established and surveillance increased in sensitive areas like Belkot, Galchi Naka, Shivapuri, and Kajuri Bhanjyang in coordination with the Nepal Police for the safe housing of women and children and for the control of human trafficking and gender-based violence. She also urged not to use unauthorized photos and videos of flood victims on social media. She said that the suffering of the victims should not be made a medium of publicity in the name of relief and rescue. She emphasized the need to respect the dignity, privacy, and rights of the affected citizens. She stated that coordination has also been done with the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police to stop the unauthorized use of photos and videos of children. According to her, there are currently 120 orphaned children in the holding center. She informed that their initial assessment, protection, and search for guardians are underway. She stated that efforts are being intensified to establish a temporary protection center under the National Child Rights Council in a government building in Khetto, Godawari Municipality-12, Lalitpur, for the protection of orphaned children. Speaking about the relocation of children, she said, 'There is a risk of child trafficking when children are taken from one place to another saying they will be educated or arrangements will be made for them.' Emphasizing the necessity of recommendations, she added, 'Therefore, I urge that children should not be taken anywhere without the coordination and recommendation of the local level and the Child Rights Council.' Speaking about the risks to children during disasters, she said, 'We have seen a lot of this in the past; disasters affect children and women the most.' Clarifying the protection of children, she added, 'We will arrange for the reunion of children with their families through the Child Rights Council to keep them safe in the affected areas; if families are not found, and relatives cannot take care of them, the Nepal government will take care of these children.' She claimed that the government is prioritizing the rescue, protection, health treatment, psychosocial support, and family reunification of women and children affected by the floods. She stated that immediately after the floods, the ministry held a meeting of the Protection Cluster and activated the mechanism for child protection, gender-based violence response, and psychosocial support. She informed that coordination is underway between the Social Welfare Council, the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, local levels, district administration, security agencies, and national and international organizations for relief operations under the government's one-door policy. According to the ministry, relief assistance worth Rs 40 crore 6 lakh 44 thousand 900 has been received from 54 international non-governmental organizations and Rs 16 crore 82 lakh 15 thousand 101 from 30 national non-governmental organizations. She informed that an additional Rs 5 crore 99 lakh 32 thousand 169 has been deposited in the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund from national and international non-governmental organizations.