UNICEF: South Asia monsoon
rains ravaging lives of millions of children
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| A submerged house in Assam, state, India (AFP) |
UNICEF, the UN’s children’s fund, estimates more than 12
million people have been affected so far by the monsoon rains in South Asia,
including over 5 million children. “These numbers are only likely to grow.”
By Robin Gomes
Devastating floods and landslides triggered by heavy monsoon
rains, across Nepal, India and Bangladesh have killed at least 93 children, and
put the lives of millions more at risk, according to the United Nations
Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
"Millions of children have seen their lives turned
upside down by the torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides," Jean
Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for South Asia, said on Thursday.
UNICEF responding urgently
It is estimated that more than 12 million people have been
affected so far. "As the rains continue, these numbers are only likely to
grow," she added.
Damage to roads, bridges and railways has rendered many
areas inaccessible, and children are in urgent need of clean water, hygiene
supplies, food and safe play spaces in evacuation centres.
“UNICEF is responding urgently, working with local
authorities and partners to ensure children are kept safe, and provided with
the support needed”, Gough assured.
In India, more than 10 million people have been
affected in north-eastern states, including more than 4.3 million children.
Millions have been displaced in the tea-growing state of
Assam, with many thousands surviving on the most meagre food supplies and dirty
water.
In Nepal, of an estimated 68,650 temporarily
displaced people, 28,702 are children. Some 88 people have
died so far, including 47 children. At least 31 people are missing, and 41
others have been injured, according to the latest Government reports. Moreover,
in central and eastern Nepal, nearly 12,000 households have been temporarily
displaced.
In Bangladesh, monsoon rains continue to impact
most of the country, particularly the central-northern and south-east regions,
where more than two million people have been affected by flooding, including
over 700,500 children.
Estimates reveal that 367,340 houses have been damaged or
destroyed and 1,865 schools affected by floodwaters. Cox's Bazar in the
south-east of the country, home to more than a million Rohingya refugees, has
also been heavily hit.
In a further development, swollen rivers have broken through
at least four embankments in the north and northwest of Bangladesh, submerging
dozens of villages, officials said on Friday. It has doubled the number
of people fleeing their homes overnight to 400,000. In what is seen as
one of the worst floods in recent years, waters have swamped 23 districts,
killing at least 30 people since the floods began last week.
Water shortage
While parts of India have been suffering from heavy rainfall
and flooding, other parts are still reeling from the aftermath of severe heat
and water deficit, affecting almost half of the country.
The southwest monsoon rains, which occur from June to
September, were 20% below average in the week ending on Wednesday, as rainfall
was scanty over the central, western and southern parts of the country, the
weather office said.
Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state, is among at least
22 Indian cities grappling with acute water shortage. The city’s municipal
taps work only a few hours a week. Trains bring in emergency water supplies
every few days.
Extreme weather
According to UNICEF, frequent and extreme weather patterns,
such as high temperatures, intense rains, prolonged dryness and slow-moving
weather fronts, are in line with predictions of how human activity is
influencing the global climate.
Such conditions not only cause death and devastation but
also force people to migrate and spread malnutrition, malaria and diarrhoea,
among other major killers.
Gough warned that extreme weather events in Sour Asia are
having a devastating impact on children and families.
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