Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - “While the rescue workers' efforts are focusing on the movement and organization of refugees, whose number is continually on the rise, the number of missing children and mothers weeping for their lost children is escalating. Part of the humanitarian effort needs to focus on aid to children.” This is the alarm launched in an interview with Fides by Shamsa Rizwan, a doctor in Islamabad and Pakistani head of the nongovernmental organization “Childhealth Advocacy International (CAI).” The NGO has been operating for years in the country, seeing to the protection, health, and education of children, mostly refugees or internally displaced children, suffering from natural disasters or conflicts.
Following the floods, CAI has been involved in some rescue operations in the Swat Valley and Noshera, and has organized an intensive training workshop for volunteers that will be used in homes beginning September 1, for the identification and assistance of displaced children.
According to official estimates, children under 14 years affected by the floods are about six million. UNICEF has announced that the lives of more than 3.5 million children are at risk for infections and water contamination. Many local NGOs have informed Fides of the plight of missing children, orphans, or sick, whose lives have been devastated by floods: "They are the most vulnerable victims of the worst natural disaster in the history of their country," Shamsa Rizwan told Fides. Many have lost their parents. 14-year-olds are having to take care of their younger siblings, without the help of any adults.
"Today, one of the most urgent problems is that of nutrition, water, and thousands of missing children that are unidentified. Nobody cares specifically for these children," notes the head of CAI-Pakistan, with concern. "This chaos is the perfect opportunity for the networks of traffickers. Since the floods, the phenomenon of missing children has been increasing. I heard, for example, of the case of a girl, saved by a volunteer. She had been approached by a man who had promised her food, but wanted to kidnap her. Children need protection, as they are the easiest prey. We ask the government to support specific interventions.”
The CAI and other NGOs are trying to organize shelters for the identification of children and family reunification, but it is not easy to work, they note, in a situation of general chaos and lack of humanitarian aid.
Floods and the displacement will add on to an already serious problem in Pakistan. According to a recent study by the NGO “Plan – Pakistan,” which works to protect minors, cases of disappearances or kidnappings of children reach the rate of 3,000 per year. Many are never found: they are victims of traffickers. The phenomenon is on the rise, says "Plan", because of the weak child protection system in the country. Over the past 18 months, the report said, the cases of disappearances recorded in major cities of Pakistan alone are more than 4,300.
According to data sent to Fides by another local NGO, “Madadgaar Helpline,” which has established a telephone line to report child abuse, in the last ten years (2000-2010) 10,511 children have been reported missing (especially after events that caused displacement) and the phenomenon shows itself to be clearly on the rise. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 08/21/2010)
