May 22 - Hundreds of displaced children wait to go home in the aftermath of the powerful earthquake that killed at least 40,000 people in China.
Volunteers rush to provide temporary care for the children left homeless or separated from their parents by the Sichuan earthquake. But experts and social workers warn much more needs to be done to repair the deep psychological damage the children have suffered during the earthquake.
Pavithra George reports.SOUNDBITES:
Displaced girl, Hou Qi, saying, (Mandarin):
"I came with my brother. Sometimes we play basket ball or football and we eat meals and then the rest of the time there is nothing to do."
Ms Yu, Volunteer, saying, (Mandarin):
"These children could easily become lost in their grief, they cannot shake it off. Adults get over it more quickly but children still live in their own world and they have not had the chance to come to terms with reality. The younger children are very fragile at the moment."
Relief workers wait to disinfect bodies of victims before burying them in the earthquake-affected Yingxiu town of Wenchuan county, Sichuan province May 22, 2008. Picture taken May 22, 2008. REUTERS/Stringer (CHINA). ...
