The current coronavirus outbreak pandemic has destroyed economic activities and wrecked families’ livelihood by leaving millions of kids as orphans. A deadly killing machine of this kind gobbled up families’ breadwinners, parents, and caregivers who were the sanctuary of young kids. Thus, exposing the children to more suffering in a world that is already in turmoil. Deaths records from across the globe show a considerable number of adults dying, and those who were going to workplaces got affected the most as they moved from place to place. Every death of an adult or a family head leaves behind a trailer of dependents who will be forced to take care of themselves.
While everyone was too focused on reopening businesses to cover up for financial losses, the pandemic was busy killing most parents or guardians, leaving a trail of orphans. Older populations succumbed to covid-19, with the working class topping the list. Those who form senior citizens’ life-line were not spared, so ‘adults’ largely became the first pandemic victims when it initially emerged into communities. Many countries depict how many adults were infected due to their various activities, which require mobility. Workers got infected because some reacted slowly when asked to stay at home, fearing the loss of jobs and businesses. Also, because of technological advancement globally, almost everyone anticipated a cure quickly, but the situation escalated to uncontrollable levels as around 4 million+ deaths have been recorded worldwide.
With everyone busy focusing on either getting paid or acquiring a covid-19 test certificate to travel abroad, no one paid attention to the orphaned kids. When covid vaccines got authorized for use by medical officials and approved by countries’ governments, it was recommended that adults and older people get vaccinated first. Some vaccines were deemed not safe for kids, pregnant mothers, or mothers who are breastfeeding. Due to this, vaccinated adults would go out, which then increased positive cases and deaths. Kids stay cooped up behind doors only to receive death news from their parents or grandparents. Records also show the increased number of widows after their husbands died due to covid as in some cultures men go out to work with the women staying at home looking after the house.
However, in any crisis, children suffer the most, and coronavirus proves this statement true. World stats reveal that since March 2020, about 1.5 million kids lost a parent, grandparent, or caregiver who was looking after them, with almost a million children losing their parents [Source]. Research conducted in The Lancet focusing on children who lost guardians posits another pandemic which involves children being orphaned by the effects of covid. The researchers said, “Orphanhood and caregiver deaths are a hidden pandemic resulting from Covid-19-associated deaths. Globally, from March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, we estimate 1,134,00 children experienced the death of primary caregivers, including at least one parent or custodial grandparent.”
The published research, which is accessible for download on [Source], highlights how people are concentrated too much towards covid “prevention, detection and response,” but forget that “Beyond morbidity and mortality, pandemics carry secondary impacts, such as children orphaned or bereft of their caregivers.”
Even media houses were blind to this issue with all effort being exerted on how governments’ policies are aiding in reaction to the pandemic and if funds are released into the medical sector. The untold story of orphans has led to unbearable conditions befalling these innocent souls, ignored by authorities. Governments’ plans to help the public amid the global crisis never included any move to aid orphans. World leaders engaged in programs to give pay-outs to “struggling people,” especially low-income earners and others, decided to provide food hampers to the public. To be eligible for government assistance, one must be part of the working class earning a specific salary regarded as ‘low.’ Still, all these plans did not consider orphaned children. The Lancet research noted, “Such children often face adverse consequences, including poverty, abuse, and institutionalization. We provide estimates for the magnitude of institutionalization from COVID-19 and describe the need for resource allocation.”
This was an overlooked issue by many departments, including the governments concerned with delivering medical services and launching a universal salary program for the working class. Recommendations from the research call on various stakeholders to offer assistance in every household whose family head died. Children are the most vulnerable in times of suffering and are likely to be taken advantage of by unruly adults while seeking assistance.
UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore released a statement last week in relation to children “deprived of parental care due to COVID-19” [Source]. She said, “As with all crises and health pandemics, the most vulnerable children are at increased risk of losing parental care – due to death, severe illness, or financial hardships. This, in turn, increases their risk of being placed in unsuitable alternative care.”
The Executive Director estimated that children are being orphaned every minute because of spiked deaths, which is reported from world countries. The Indian government seems to be making notable strides in caring about kids during the pandemic. According to the Times of India [Source], the Ministry of Women and Child Development requested States and Unions Territories and District Magistrates to identify all children eligible to receive support under the PM CARES for Children’ scheme. This scheme is meant for all kids who lost their parents or guardians to covid, and they are required to upload personal information on the portal “pmcaresforchildren.”
Also, the Indonesian government has launched programs towards taking care of these orphans as the organization ‘Save the Children’ is working in finding new homes for children with next of kin, registered guardians, or foster families [Source]. Such initiatives strengthen Fore’s plans of urging people to work in support of “a system whereby children deprived of parental care can be looked after by extended family members and not placed in unsuitable care.”
At times like this, everyone must be responsible for upholding children’s rights and offering assistance. An African saying states that “a child belongs to the community.” Hence members of society are tasked to cater to vulnerable kids, and governments need to take action before these young people’s future is destroyed by poverty and abuse.