HUMANITARIAN NEEDS
Results from the comprehensive school structural assessment led by the Department of Education, with technical support from cluster partners in 14 districts have been completed. The results confirm findings of initial rapid assessments, highlighting massive damage to education facilities. Over 60 per cent of the classrooms assessed are in school blocks classified as unsafe, while over 20,000 classrooms are in blocks that need to be demolished and rebuilt. Access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities is limited, with at least 1,600 schools (28 per cent) without functional latrines. The Cluster estimates that over 1 million children are left without access to a safe permanent classroom as a result of the earthquakes. The psychosocial impact of the disaster also continues to be felt by children and communities. In a survey of over 600 teachers working in earthquake-affected schools, 50 per cent reported that lack of permanent classrooms was the biggest challenge and 25 per cent reported that children were still scared.