Kathmandu, Sept 19: The government has directed authorities to protect children affected by the August 26 Bhotekoshi-Trishuli flood through the state’s child protection system, warning against individuals or organisations taking them into custody independently.
The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens expressed concern over attempts to take children into care under promises of education, shelter or protection. It also warned against efforts to influence vulnerable children, including unwanted religious influence presented as counselling.
Allowing private groups or individuals to move children or assume custody at their discretion could threaten their safety, emotional development and future, the ministry said. Such arrangements could also harm their psychosocial wellbeing during an already distressing period.
An interim protection centre has opened at Thecho in Godawari Municipality Ward 12, Lalitpur, under the National Child Rights Council. Children assessed as needing immediate protection will be admitted after preliminary screening and in accordance with established procedures.
The Ministry has asked the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to help local authorities bring vulnerable children into the protection system. This includes children who have lost parental care and those temporarily separated from family protection.
Local governments in areas affected by the flood, including those declared crisis zones, have been urged to coordinate with state agencies. Their responsibilities include rescue, identification, protection, family reunification and access to essential services, with children’s best interests guiding decisions.
The ministry stressed that disaster response must follow a safe, organised and accountable process established by law. Its approach combines immediate shelter with identification, family assessment, education, psychosocial support and rehabilitation over the longer term. These services are intended to operate within one coordinated system, ensuring that decisions about children’s care remain subject to official assessment and oversight throughout their recovery and eventual family reunification.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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