Kathmandu, August 19:

Although over 50,000 children have been directly affected by the conflict, the government has managed to provide shelter to only 165 children hailing from 18 districts. The government and Nepal Children’s Organisation have built shelters in Kapilbastu, Dhangadi, Nepalgunj and Sindhuli to house conflict-hit children of 18 districts. “We have 68 children and 11 of them are from Rolpa,” said Ram Prasad Aryal, chief of Kapilbastu Bal Griha over, telephone. “They are recommended by the CDO, LDO, a representative of Nepal Children’s Organisation and security,” Aryal said. “We cannot take in all the children due to lack of resources.” According to the Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Centre (CWIN), in 2005 around 56 children lost their lives, of which 45 were killed by the Maoists, six died in the crossfire between warring parties and five were killed by the security personnel. Around 90 children have been injured in bomb explosions, ambush explosions, punishment by the state and rebel groups. The conflict affected 3750 schools in the country, bunkers were built in 56 schools and bombings by the Maoists affected 27 schools and destroyed two others.