Sydney, Australia, 27 April 2015: ChildFund Australia has launched an emergency appeal to provide urgent care and protection for children who’ve lost homes and loved ones in the powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday.
Initial government reports confirm that 30 out of 75 districts in the country have been affected about 40 per cent of the country. The earthquake was also felt across the region in India, Tibet, China and Bangladesh.
ChildFund staff in Nepal report the situation on the ground is absolutely devastating and the number of people killed, injured and affected by this earthquake continues to rise. As of this morning, more than 2,200 people have been confirmed dead and almost 6,000 injured, with these figures expected to increase as more bodies are uncovered from the rubble.
“There is an urgent need for food, water, medicine and shelter,” says Mariko Tanaka, ChildFund’s country director in Nepal. “Currently there is no electricity. Communication lines are also down. Many people have been displaced from their homes and have spent the night out in the open. There are many people injured and hospitals are unable to handle the situation.”
ChildFund, which has been working in Nepal for 20 years, is responding in Sindhupalchok district, one of the worst-affected areas. Initial reports from our partner staff estimate 80 per cent of mud houses in the communities have been destroyed. Children and families are now staying outdoors in freezing temperatures and need immediate assistance.
“Our primary concern is for the care and protection of children affected by this terrible disaster,” says ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence. “We are working with our colleagues in Nepal to ensure the immediate needs of children are met. Our team on the ground is conductingÊa rapid assessment so that our response can get underway.”
Nigel Spence and Mariko Tanaka are both available for comment.
The Refugee Council of Australia has called for an immediate moratorium on transfers to Nauru following the tragic example of a five-year-old girl who has attempted to commit suicide following her prolonged detention there.
Over 100 Australian organisations and community groups, including churches and religious institutions, human rights, aid and development bodies, advocates and community organisations have joined the call to cease transfer of asylum seekers back to harm.
Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia said, “An innocent young girl of just five years old has been driven to attempting suicide because of the Australian Government’s inability to provide a satisfactory duty of care on Nauru. No child should be sent there and certainly not sent to a situation while the environment remains so dangerous.
“This young girl, who has shown sexualised behaviour, has self-harmed and is obviously profoundly and negatively impacted by the Australian Government’s policy of detaining children in extremely harsh environments, is indicative of the inability of the inadequacy of this current policy.
“Any parent would be appalled by the impact on this vulnerable young girl, and we call upon the Australian Government to immediately cease the transfer of vulnerable asylum seekers until all the recommendations of the Moss Review and the Cornall report are implemented.
“We call on the Australian Government to show some compassion for a young vulnerable girl and not return her, nor any other vulnerable people to Nauru until the safety and protection of all asylum seekers can be guaranteed.
“The recent Moss Review and Cornall Reports illustrated sexual abuse, including rape, violence, drugs for favours and a general failure to provide safety and security, particularly for women and children, highlighted the inappropriateness of Nauru as a place to send already vulnerable asylum seekers.
“The Government has accepted all recommendations in the Moss Report and as such, no further children, women, nor men should be sent to Nauru not Manus until all recommendations are satisfied and safety and security of children and women can be assured,” concluded Mr Power.
For the full statement and list of signatories, click here.
Support the campaign online using #NoMoreTransfers
