In 2020, 60 (25F; 35M), unaccompanied children and 645 (334F; 311M) separated children were identified and placed in appropriate alternative care. 97(50F, 47M) Best Interest Assessments (BIA)s were conducted for children at risk to assist in development of a case plan. As part of UNHCR’s strategy to empower communities in child protection, 4 community-based structures were formed and supported to enable them conduct awareness raising on child protection and rapid identification and referral of cases. 50(26F; 24M) CPC, 12(6F; 6M) CRC and 12(6F; 6M) peer groups received capacity building on child protection. Following the disruption of education activities in Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) to prevent the spread of COVID-19, CFS facilitators trained over 2,000 parents/caregivers in Ajoung Thok and Pamir on home-based recreational activities, basic concepts on child protection and psychosocial care and COVID-19 prevention measures. Similarly, to keep children engaged, facilitators engaged children in small groups, within their neighbourhoods, adapting creative ways of conducting various activities with children, outside of CFS. 8 awareness raising sessions were conducted using diverse methodologies including megaphones and radio programmes for wider coverage in the community.
In Maban, UNHCR and its partners managed to achieve 307 new Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) (148 boys, 159 girls) and internal case meeting were conducted to address the needs identified during the case assessments. 345 new cases (162 boys, 183 girls) of children at risk in the refugee camps were identified and provided with case management services in the four refugee camps, mainly NFIs support, alternative care arrangements, follow up and monitoring, home visits and documentation and referral of the children to available services.
33 BIDs cases were presented in the BID panel, reviewed, discussed and case management actions agreed were implemented and feedback provided by the interagency service providers including UNHCR and CRA.
Return of 32 children Paloich and Melut was done jointly by UNHCR, CRA and SCI and these the children who left the camp after closure of the school in search for livelihood activities outside the camp.
With the CACs closed, the case workers, CAC facilitators and children groups trained as peer educators jointly conducted controlled mobile resilience enhancing activities that combined life skills, skills building, case management, and disseminated key messages on CYP and COVID-19. These activities were held at the household level across the four camps and host community, reaching an additional 5,064 children and youth.
UNHCR partner MASS together with the child protection-working group conducted 2 radio talk shows to raise awareness on child rights and child protection. The talk shows were followed by 8 mini awareness sessions on child rights and protection of children. 177 children and caregivers were reached. 13(6boys and 7girls) children living with disabilities were identified, assessed, and supported with in kind support that included both food and core relief items to respond to needs that were previously identified.
Throughout the course of the project, one existing Child Protection Committee (CPC) was maintained and supportive to all child related problems in the Camp. This structure was also conducted door to door Child Protection awareness integrated with COVID-19 key preventive messages. 398 children from both the refugee Camp and the host communities living in Makpandu were regularly attending PSS activities at the CFS the refugee camp from January 1st 2020 until the end of March 2020 when total lock down rule was declared by the national government as a precautionary measure to the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.