Since yesterday May 31st, the army has been bombarding the cities of Loikaw and Demoso with cannons, attack helicopters and fighter bombers. “Cities and villages have been heavily attacked without regard to civil security. Many people urgently need food, medicine and shelter as the rainy season begins and many have stomach problems, possibly due to dirty water and poor hygiene”, complains Father Tinreh. “In addition, the military has blocked all important access roads to the state to prevent people from receiving humanitarian aid. These military actions are regrettable and must be stopped immediately. The people are desperate”, the priest notes. In Demoso, where two young Catholics were killed in recent days while bringing food to the displaced, the military raided and ransacked the Catholic parish house and the convent of nuns. Source: ASIA/MYANMAR – Massive military operations in Kayah state: many people are on the run – Agenzia Fides

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated families across India, has left thousands of children orphaned or without one parent.

Since the start of the pandemic, more than 1,700 children have lost both parents, while 140 have been abandoned and more than 7,400 have lost one of their parents to the virus, according to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).

The NCPCR submitted the report to the Supreme Court on Monday, detailing the problems of children orphaned during the pandemic and the need to provide them with food, shelter and clothing.

The northern state of Uttar Pradesh reported 2,110 children who were orphaned, lost one parent or were abandoned, followed by Bihar at 1,327 and Kerala at 952, according to government data. Child rights activists believe that this number is likely a significant underestimate.

In response, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government last week announced measures to help orphaned children, with around 1 million rupees (€11,220, $13,700) set aside to be given to each child as a stipend, from the ages of 18 to 23. The funds would be offered from the PM-CARES scheme.

Various state governments have also announced initiatives to assist children.

Source: COVID: Thousands of Indian children orphaned by pandemic | Asia| An in-depth look at news from across the continent | DW | 01.06.2021

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