CHILDREN in Pakistan face a variety of serious challenges, ranging from malnutrition, poor access to education and health facilities to exploitation in the form of child labour. Their low status in society can leave them victimised to daily violence at home and in school as well as to organised trafficking and sexual exploitation. Girls are specially affected as conservative attitudes may impede them attending or finishing school.

Unicef exclusively worked for the rehabilitation of earthquake victims. More than 100 new schools were constructed and handed over to Azad Jammu and Kashmir and NWFP governments. The UN agency and its partners also worked closely with federal and provincial governments to provide assistance to the people staying with their relatives and to support three new camps which were already accommodating the newly-displaced.

Unicef also remained extremely concerned about the humanitarian impact on civilians, especially children, still living in areas affected by the conflict. There is a lot more to be done still and there is a need to extend services to the children suffering in the so-far unaffected and no-calamity-hit areas.

Unicef urges all parties to take steps to ensure that children are protected from the effects of armed conflict, and to ensure safe passage to aid workers.

HANZLA KHURSHID
Via email