A year after the devastating Nepal quake, 1.6 million kids still study in makeshift classrooms

Exactly a year after a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on 25 April, 2015, 1.6 million school children in affected areas are still struggling without safe classroom structures, with many starting their new academic year in temporary structures.

Much remains to be done to ensure a rapid return to normal learning environment for these children, the UN children's fund Unicef has said.

On the first anniversary of the disaster, Unicef on Sunday said there is a need to redouble the efforts to ensure that children can study in safe transitional or permanent classrooms as early as possible.

"The devastating earthquakes last year destroyed or severely damaged over 35,000 classrooms. After that, efforts were made to bring children back to school as soon as possible to minimise disruption of their education and exposure to risks of neglect, exploitation and violence," said Tomoo Hozumi, Unicef representative to Nepal.

The 25 April quake cost Nepal in financial damages and losses equivalent to 36 per cent of its GDP.

Further prolongation of uncertainty can affect not only the education of children but also their health, nutrition, protection and overall development.

Of the 1,88,900 people who had been temporarily displaced after the earthquake, 26,272 are still living in camps. Children living in the shelters are also vulnerable to various risks, including trafficking.

"A lot of work has been done for humanitarian relief and recovery in the affected districts so that education continues and outbreak of diseases and severe malnutrition is avoided. But the country still has a long and hard road toward full recovery," said Hozumi.

Unicef has worked with the Nepal government and partners to identify and register 39,337 unaccompanied, separated and vulnerable children.

Of them, 13,317 were provided with emergency support that they required.