Toddler Sujal finds safety and comfort at SOS Emergency Relief camps
Sindhupalchowk is one of the most devastated districts in Nepal, with almost 90% of the houses damaged. The relief camp in Kavre provides a temporary refuge for the people of Sindhupalchowk, a third of them children. Most people are injured with broken limbs, gashes on their head and deep lacerations.
One of these victims is two-and-a-half year old Sujal. The toddler was with his mother inside their house when the earthquake struck. Sujal’s two older brothers, who are 11 and 9 years old, were playing outside. Their house collapsed in the earthquake, burying Sujal and his mother in the debris.
Terrified, his two older brothers ran to seek refuge. Sujal’s mother died instantly and Sujal, injured and unable to move, stayed beside her for one and half days without food or water before being rescued. When rescuers came to the site, Sujal shouted from under the debris, “I am here. Can’t you see me?”
Now Sujal is safe at the relief camp being treated for his fractured leg. SOS Youth volunteers are taking extra care by providing him food and helping in cleaning him up. SOS Nepal has established a Child Friendly Space in this camp where they are organising recreational activities for the children.
Sujal’s father Raju works as a watchman in Saudi Arabia. When he learned about the earthquake, he wanted to come home immediately to his family but his employer refused to give him leave. He says, “I was concerned about my family and I wanted to come to Nepal desperately. I had to argue with my employer to let me go. I took 40 days of unpaid leave and came here. I paid on my own for the ticket.”
Finally reunited with his son, Raju is there for familial comfort when Sujal wakes up and starts calling for his mother, crying in desperation.
However, this source of comfort for Sujal will soon be gone again. Raju says, “I have to go back for work or else I will have no money to feed my three sons”. He is thankful that right now there is someone to take care of his children.