The World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Since then, children’s physical and mental health, education, and economic well-being has been put at risk. As the world enters a third year of this global crisis, the impact could continue for years to come.
Rise in violence against children Children have been at greater risk of violence over the past two years of the pandemic. According to Save the Children, which surveyed 25,000 people across 37 countries in 2020, children were reported to have higher rates of violence when schools were closed compared to when they could attend classes. The economic impact and closures of schools have been correlated with this rise in violence against adults and children. Save The Children also reported that figures from South Africa showed that more than 350 children were killed in the last three months of 2021, with an additional increase of 30 percent in attempted murders. Most of this violence took place at home. A 2020 report called the Perfect Storm, released by World Vision, revealed that 85 million children are in immediate danger of physical, sexual and emotional violence at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. The abuse is often a result of increased isolation. “It is vital that world leaders take responsibility for the protection of all children against violence and abuse,” said Michael Messenger, President and CEO of World Vision Canada. “We know from bitter experience that crises, including conflict and the spread of deadly diseases, increase violence against the most vulnerable girls and boys. The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo was a recent example. Looking ahead, it’s deeply worrying to think about the crushing economic and social impacts of COVID-19, which will put up to 85 million more children in harm’s way.” Surge in child poverty According to UNICEF, child poverty was projected to be 10 percent higher than before the pandemic, resulting in an additional 100 million children going into poverty. Families in developing countries have suffered the most as the recovery process has been slower due to high unemployment rates and the lack of government assistance. Prior to the pandemic, 47 percent of children around the world were living in multidimensional poverty: poverty without access to healthcare, education, clean water and sanitation, adequate nutrition, and housing. Children’s mental health Sick Kids reported on the impact of COVID-19 among children 2 to 18 years in age. They found that over 70 percent reported worse mental health during initial COVID-19 lockdowns. Children were left feeling lonely, overwhelmed, worried, sad, anxious, depressed, and hopeless. Please consider donating and supporting our vulnerable children to secure a more promising future for them: UNICEF Save The Children World Visio Thai Elephants Dying of Starvation Due to the Pandemic and its Impact on the Tourism Sector5/19/2022
The pandemic has negatively impacted Thailand’s tourism sector. With the exception of elephant sanctuaries or rehabilitation centres, captive elephants in Thailand are often exploited for financial gain and depend heavily on tourism for funding. Captive elephants may be forced to provide rides for visitors, play soccer for spectators, or other tricks to generate income. However, the pandemic has also negatively affected elephant sanctuaries and rehabilitation centres that rely on tourists who volunteer to care for the elephants, donate money or pay for admission to view elephants in their natural habitat free from chains. Many camps and sanctuaries have struggled to provide the proper care and food for their animals. Maesa Elephant Camp in Chiang Mai, Thailand, was originally established in 1976 as an elephant camp for tourism, which introduced elephant riding, elephant shows, and tricks. However, in 2019, Maesa Elephant Camp underwent significant change when the ownership was transferred to Mrs. Anchalee Kalmapijit, who believed that elephants should live a more natural life, free of chains. She eliminated riding and other exploitative activities with assistance from Elephant Nature Park. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funding and the decrease in tourism, 22 elephants at Maesa Elephant Camp died during the pandemic as a result of starvation. The most recent death was a 50-year-old male elephant named Krung Rattana. He died while staff were working hard to transport him to Elephant Conservation Centre for urgent medical care. Krung Rattana had been chronically ill and had previously received medical treatment from the camp’s veterinary team. However, as a result of not receiving a proper diet for two years, he did not survive. Mrs. Anchalee Kalmapijit stated that elephants are expensive to feed considering they eat 10 tonnes of food every day. In addition, Maesa Elephant Camp currently only has 110 employees, a third of the 330 employees the camp had two years ago. The elephant crisis in Thailand has been receiving international coverage in the media. An article was written by Mongabay.com in 2021 and explores the topic of the feeding crisis and the difficulty in providing care to elephants without sufficient funding. It states: “An interesting development we’ve seen in the last few years, right up to the start of the pandemic, is more travel companies – not only in Western countries but also in China – dropping conventional elephant activities, such as elephant riding, in favour of observation only and more humane alternatives,” said Jan Schmidt-Burbach of World Animal Protection, an organization that has studied elephant welfare in Thailand for more than a decade. “I really hope that the travel industry will pick up where they left off at the start of the pandemic and not fall back into greed-driven profit-maximization.” It is my hope that the pandemic will change Thailand’s exploitative elephant tourism sector and provide a chance to reconsider the relationship between humans and elephants. Donations have provided emergency funds to aid 1,826 elephants in 226 camps in Thailand, according to World Animal News reported in 2021. However, this crisis continues to persist and more help is required to ensure the survival of these beautiful, social, and intelligent creatures. The elephants at Maesa Elephant Camp are in need of financial support to care for their elephants. Please consider sponsoring an elephant at: maesaelephantcamp.com/sponsor-an-elephant/ Human trafficking is a global epidemic that aims to exploit the most vulnerable people in communities across the world. Traffickers look for people, especially children, that are prime targets for human trafficking and exploitation.
The following factors are indicators that someone may be vulnerable to human trafficking: Political Instability The existence of war, violence, political conflict and natural disasters create an unstable environment in which people may fear for their survival and lack the ability to earn a living. There is an increased likelihood that children may be separated from their families or left without proper guardians to protect them from potential predators. In situations of forced migration, people may be required to flee from their homes in search of safer or more stable communities. However, this is not always successful, as they may find themselves homeless, in temporary settlements that are unprotected, and cut off from their family or social network. Human traffickers take full advantage of these circumstances. Gender Inequality While advances have been made in the Western world, there is still a large gap present in terms of gender inequality both here and around the world. This disparity between the opportunities that are available to men versus women is one of the many reasons women and young girls are more at risk. In many places, women and girls are viewed as less valuable than men. They often earn less for work and have less access to education and healthcare. In many cultures, women are also expected to be submissive, putting them at greater risk when faced with human traffickers. Poverty Human traffickers will specifically target poor, marginalized communities to trick vulnerable people, often minors, by offering false opportunities to improve their current circumstances. Because of their situation, the victims may be willing to take greater risks to provide for themselves and their families, and are often misled about the opportunities they are presented with. Forced abductions of children for exploitation are also more common in developing countries. This can put those experiencing poverty at even greater risk of human trafficking. Gang Violence The existence of violent gangs can make the exploitation of men, women and children an incredibly profitable business — even when compared to other illegal trades like weapons or drugs. Members of gangs recruit and exploit people every day utilizing a variety of methods. They may even coerce their own members or associates to participate in illegal activities, such as forced labour and other exploits. Online Connections Living in a digital world means traffickers have more tools than ever to lure vulnerable children and adults into meeting in person. They can convince vulnerable people to take inappropriate photos, and coerce them into complying with demands through extortion, threats and false promises. Traffickers may hold a compromising photo or video to keep someone under control, threatening to release the information and ruin their lives. Traffickers may also pose as someone they’re not, such as a potential love interest or someone of similar age to lure a person into meeting them in person. Conclusion: You can be part of the solution The international Labor Organization estimates there are over 40 million victims of human trafficking. The globalization of this terrible industry is heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are some amazing organizations you can support to raise awareness and participate in the fight against human trafficking. One of my favourite organizations, Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), works internationally to rescue victims of human trafficking, including children from sexual exploitation. You can donate and/or volunteer with the organization and serve an active role in ending human trafficking. Please consider donating here. With the dry season approaching the Borneo forests, The Orangutan project is attempting to raise $115,000 to protect against forest fires.
Data from the SiPongi (Karhutla Monitoring System) reported in 2019 that approximately 317,749 hectares of forest were burned down in Central Kalimantan. If fire rips through the area again, many orangutans and other critical wildlife will suffer. Even if some animals manage to escape, the devastation of fire will have a ripple effect that will impact their ability to survive by destroying natural food resources and their ability to reproduce. Why is the Sebangau Forest in danger? Peat forests are some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, peat can store up to 550 gigatonnes of carbon, exceeding the carbon stored in all other vegetation types. As a result, if the forest catches fire, it could burn non-stop for months. Peat, or decomposed tree matter, has been compacted in a wet, swamp environment for thousands of years. When plant material does not fully decay in wetland areas, it becomes peat. When it builds up, it holds water, creating a wet blanket on the ground that can help prevent forest fires. However, due to climate change and illegal logging, the forests are experiencing longer and more frequent droughts, causing peat forests to disappear. This is further aggravated by the creation of canals by illegal loggers. The illegal loggers create canals as a means to transport timber causing the water in the area to drain. This led to widespread drainage of the peatland and drying out of the forest. Thus, a simple spark can now make dry peat light up and start large devastating fires, which would threaten the whole ecosystem. This area is the home to the largest population of Bornean orangutans, meaning that their lives are at risk every dry season. How you can be part of the solution? The Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) goes into the forest before every dry season to conduct a program of blocking up the old disused canals and wetting the peat. This ensures leaf litter and water is retained in the ecosystem, lowering the risk of it catching fire. It is extremely difficult and physically demanding to drag materials through the forest to build the necessary dams to keep the forest and its wildlife safe. A team is required to build several hundred dams as every single canal requires dozens of dams to be built. To date, the organization has built hundreds of dams using sustainable materials. However, these efforts are costly, and The Orangutan Project — which partners with Borneo Nature Foundation — is required to raise $115,000 to help fund construction of more dams throughout the forest. Each dam requires constant monitoring and repairs. A shortfall of funds We are urging everyone to be a part of the solution by donating money to ensure BNF has the materials necessary to keep the forests from burning this dry season. Without funding, the lives of many orangutans, as well as other wildlife and people, are at serious risk. Their goal is to raise $115,000. Please consider being part of a movement that will preserve the forest and save the lives of countless endangered wildlife and their precious habitat. Click here to donate. |
AuthorKatrina Sriranpong is a philanthropist with a passion for aiding disadvantaged children, advocating for refugees from war-torn countries as well as promoting animal rights and protection. Archives
April 2024
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