What
Needs to Be Done for the Children
By S.B. Salam
Chicago, IL
Earthquakes cause adverse social,
economic and health problems. Affected children
suffer in a variety of ways. Since October 8,
many, many children have died in Kashmir and the
NWFP while countless have been orphaned and are
living in constant agony and pain. These children
are suffering from physical as well as psychological
ailments. Thousands are suffering from extreme
trauma and infections due to crushed hands and
legs (orthopedic injuries), and will need amputations
to save their lives. The government and relief
agencies need to take the followings measures
swiftly so that the children could begin their
journey towards a normal life in the aftermath
of truly traumatic circumstances:
• Names of children who have been orphaned
or separated from their parents need to be properly
registered so that they could be reunited with
their family members in an organized manner.
• Special educational programs need to be
developed for children with disabilities so that
they could receive education as well as post-traumatic
psychological support for their long-term rehabilitation.
• A national orphanage for young survivors
of the earthquake should be established in Islamabad.
• International donors need to donate artificial
limbs (prostheses) and orthoses (braces/ splints)
and provide expertise in prosthetics and orthotics
for the rehabilitation of the injured children.
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