According to local news wire Nusa Bali, there have been more than 460 schools damaged by the recent earthquakes in Lombok making it unsafe for children to continue their studies. The solution being proposed by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) is to use emergency tents on school grounds.

KPAI are recommending the government assess the condition of damaged schools and encourage teaching staff and employees to assist in providing up-to-date information on the status of buildings.

The proposal is for the Indonesian Board of Disaster Management (BNPB) to provide tents usually assigned to refugees to be used as emergency classroom tents. The Education Office was also asked to distribute school and recreational equipment, as well as facilities and infrastructure appropriate for all levels of education. 

More than 460 schools have been damaged by the recent earthquakes in Lombok.

For Retno Listyarti, Commissioner for Education, it is vitally important children receive post-earthquake rehabilitation and one way to do this is for them to continue to receive education as soon as possible, bringing back a sense of normality to an otherwise traumatic situation. "Given the process of building schools takes a long time, the implementation of emergency schools must involve many sectors including community participation," said Retno.

Relief groups such as the Rotary Club are on the ground and assisting in some of the worst hit areas. In a recent update to WILLIAMS MEDIA, Wanda Somdani from the Rotary Disaster Relief Team said they were attending coordination meetings every morning with the government, BNPB and other NGOs and social organizations. "Apart from food, drinks, blankets, tents, mattresses, clothes and medicine, which are still badly needed in all areas, we also need trauma healing counselors, especially for children," she said.

Sources: Harian Nasional, Nusa Bali, Kompas

Similar to this:

Rotary Clubs helping victims as another earthquake strikes Lombok

Bali needs holistic approaches to continue positive economic growth

Rotary Clubs helping victims of the Lombok earthquakes