It is appalling that the schools were forced to remain closed for over a week, thanks to the disruptions caused by the strikes and curfews. The UNICEF has thus urged the warring sides not to obstruct children from going to school from April 15, the first day of the new school year. Given the uncertainty surrounding the political unrest, the school authorities are still sceptical about the possibility of classes being resumed very soon. All sides should ensure that children are not made to suffer for no fault of theirs. Every child has the right to education without fear of any kind.

The UNICEF has also called upon the conflicting parties to let the children take the Vitamin A capsules and deworming tablets scheduled for distribution nationwide on April 19 and 20. Every six months, Vitamin A, considered crucial for boosting the immune system, is distributed to some 3.3 million children aged between six months and five years. Also, around 3.1 million kids between one and five years of age receive deworming tablets, which help in reducing the rate of anaemia in children. The immunisation programme, according to reports, helps save lives of some 12,000 children each year. In a country where half the child population is malnourished, the campaign in question is critical to child survival. Since it would be strenuous to reschedule the whole exercise, it would be better if the protestors as well as the combatants desisted from disrupting the programme. On the contrary, they should help in implementing it.