More than 12,000 children orphaned by ebola in Sierra Leone
World-First Ebola Orphan Report Released
A world-first Ebola orphan report uncovering the shocking scale and nature of the Ebola Orphan crisis has been released by the UK charity Street Child
The Street Child Ebola orphan report, based on research in every district in Sierra Leone, uncovers the shocking reality of the Ebola orphan crisis:
· 12,023 children have been identified as orphaned by Ebola
· 17% Orphans live in a household with 5+ other orphans
· 57% live in the hard-to-reach rural setting
· Orphans have an average age of 9 years old
· Street Child has provided support to 10,944 orphans
Interviews with orphans in every district of the country revealed that they are experiencing stigma, hunger, and extreme trauma. They are an exceptionally vulnerable group at increased risk of marginalisation, abuse and teen pregnancy.
Research team leader John Pryor reported “The situation for these orphans is dire; without the guidance, support and security of their caregiver, orphans are extremely vulnerable and face every day challenges threatening their survival. The vast numbers of orphans I surveyed spoke of trauma, abuse, sexual exploitation and living in constant fear for their future. This report shows the scale of the crisis, but it also offers solutions showing that if the international aid community works together there is light at the end of the tunnel for these intensely vulnerable children.”
The cases of Usman (16) who, lost his father to Ebola and was subsequently rejected by his friends and tried to take his own life; and Mariatu (16) who is now five months pregnant after engaging in commercial sex to help feed her family after the loss of her father, are shocking examples of the risks these orphans face. Mariatu now works in a quarry, earning enough to feed herself every two days; without the support of Street Child her future would be helpless.
Ebola orphans urgently need additional support from the international aid community to help significantly upscale Street Child’s existing response, including: psychosocial care; humanitarian aid, sustainable livelihood support and help returning to school.
Street Child founder Tom Dannatt commented, “This document represents a distressing distillation of what we as an agency have discovered and learned during this time – and what we feel are the priorities that need addressing for these children. What is revealed is the scale and nature of the crisis: over 12,000 children have lost a key caregiver whom they depended on and are faced with extremely challenging and perilous circumstances. It now appears possible to believe that an end to Ebola is near, and that the time for rebuilding, and in particular helping those who have lost the most, has come. It is Street Child’s fervent belief that Ebola’s orphans should be amongst the first in line for help.”
“Street Child has provided support to close to 11,000 orphans but there are limitations to what we can do – we need help to save the thousands of orphans at risk of missing out on a future.”
Please see the link for the Ebola Orphan report: http://www.street-child.co.uk/ebola-orphan-report/
