06/13/2005

Children are particularly at risk in this conflict as they are being forcibly conscripted by the Maoists and the education system in their villages has collapsed. Both the Maoists and the security forces have used schools for military purposes, and military attacks on schools have increased children’s vulnerability. In order to protect their children, entire families are either migrating from rural areas to government controlled urban centers like Nepalganj, or sending their children to the urban centers. The urban centers don’t have the resources to deal with the increased population and basic services like education are overstretched with not enough teachers or materials to meet the needs of the children.