Millions of children life under threat in Nepal due Indian blockade: UNICEF
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KHATMANDU: Child rights groups warned Tuesday that shortages of fuel, medicine and other supplies in Nepal due to a border blockade with India are putting millions of children at the risk of disease and even death. Sumnima Tuladhar of the Kathmandu-based CWIN Nepal said that supplies of medical were running low and that some parents were not able to take their children to hospital for treatment because of the fuel shortages. "The risk to children with chronic diseases is really high and shortages has compounded the problems for children in Nepal who were already suffering from the earthquake earlier this year," said Tuladhar, adding it was becoming difficult to get even basic medicines for children in rural areas. The blockade has been in place for weeks as members of the Madhesi ethnic community protesting Nepal's new constitution block the main southern border point with India, preventing fuel and other essential items from entering the country. India, which has close cultural ties with the Madhesi, has restricted fuel and other exports to Nepal. Nepal gets most of its fuel from India. Nepalese doctors say trucks carrying medicine have also been stuck at the border. The fuel shortage has led to schools cutting back on classes, with many closing in southern Nepal. (The Jakarta Post)
