KATHMANDU, Sept 12: Children have been among those hardest hit by the Bhotekoshi River flood in Rasuwa on August 26.
This was shared at a discussion on “Impact of the Bhotekoshi Flood on Children and the Responsibilities of Media Professionals” organized by the Children as Zone of Peace National Campaign (CZOP) in collaboration with Plan International on Friday.
During the event, Tilottam Paudel, chairperson of CZOP and Jagriti Child and Youth Concern Nepal, presented findings from field monitoring of flood-affected areas and the situation of children.
According to Paudel, Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading, Chitwan, Gorkha and Tanahun were among the districts severely affected by the floods. He said 1,385 people had died and 5,130 remained missing as of September 11.
Worth of stories
Paudel said 9,428 children from 32 schools in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have been directly affected by the disaster. Of them, 1,373 have been displaced and are staying at holding centers. Preliminary reports show that 488 students remain unaccounted for, while five students have been found dead.
Paudel stressed the need for concerned agencies to advocate for the safety, protection and education of children affected by the disaster. He also called for greater sensitivity from the state and relevant agencies in protecting children who have lost their parents or guardians.
Media urged to report on children with greater sensitivity
Former Federation of Nepalese Journalists President Dharmendra Jha made a presentation on reporting on children during disasters. He said the media should prioritize the voices of vulnerable and voiceless groups while giving special attention to child rights, privacy and mental well-being when reporting on children.
He stressed that news reports should be produced and disseminated in ways that do not cause further psychological trauma to children and that their identities and privacy should be protected.
Similarly, Plan International Policy Influencing Manager Irshad Ansari said issues concerning children should receive greater priority in the media during disasters. He emphasized the need for particular caution in protecting children's privacy while taking their vulnerability into account.
Ansari also expressed his commitment to continuing institutional cooperation and support with CZOP as needed in work related to children.
Journalists participating in the discussion urged CZOP to speak out if any media outlet, government agency or organization engages in practices that violate children's rights or disseminates inaccurate or unverified information concerning children.
They also called on CZOP to issue public statements against harmful practices related to child rights and protection and to advocate with relevant stakeholders on such issues.
The discussion emphasized that the media should practice responsible and sensitive journalism during disasters, giving priority to children's safety, protection, education and psychosocial well-being.
