Early childhood development

UNICEF also called for more humanitarian aid and commercial traffic to come in to stabilise the situation and reduce the desperation of the population.

The CCR at NLUO is a teaching, research and advocacy centre established to advance legal and social innovations in child protection.

Through these measures, CARA aims to safeguard the rights of children and ensure that every adoption is a step towards creating a secure and loving family environment.

The past year saw 14.3 million “zero-dose” children who never received a single dose of any vaccine, WHO and UNICEF said in a joint press release on Tuesday.

At the border, families endure sweltering temperatures often topping 40°C, armed with the few belongings they could manage to pack. They find shade under blankets, while signs of malnutrition are evident in children, and many mothers appear worn down and anxious.

In Upper Kohistan, 98 out of 718 babies – roughly 13.65 per cent – were born underweight, making it the most affected district in the province. Kolai Palas followed with a 9.04 per cent rate (34 out of 376), while Upper Chitral recorded 76 such cases out of 1,212 births, translating to 6.27 per cent.

An overwhelming number of Sri Lankan households subsist on less than Rs. 1000 a day, or roughly Rs. 30,000 a month. These families are compelled to make impossible choices – often between food and education – leading many to defer or forgo early education for their children.

The orientation program is part of NLUO’s commitment to creating Child-Friendly Communities, and it marks a milestone in Project Kutumb’s mission to foster safer environments for vulnerable and at-risk children.