Protecting Children in post-disaster situations

In the aftermath of a natural disaster, children continue to face dangers to their survival. Because of unsanitary conditions and lack of clean water or disinfectant, even minor injuries sustained in a disaster can become life-threatening without medical attention. As well, fallen buildings, destroyed homes, flooded paths or waterholes continue to pose safety hazards to children who are left unsupervised. Children need appropriate food, adequate water and sanitation, and shelter as soon as possible. Without these basics, children’s immunity against disease will be vastly reduced.

When children are separated from their parents by a natural disaster, it may take days or even weeks to reunite them. In the meantime there is no way of knowing whether parents have survived. As people move away from affected areas, there is also further risk to the breakup of families. The distress caused by this is considerable for children, made even worse if they cannot find extended family to care for them in the meantime. A priority for agencies should be to identify separated children in disaster-affected communities, ensure they are being cared for, and let them know, as well as family members, friends and neighbours, what is being done to help. At a minimum, they need psychosocial support, with routine and a sense of safety and normalcy restored as soon as possible, and an understanding that their basic needs of food, shelter, water and care can still be met.

What World Vision is doing to assist children after natural disasters have struck, is vividly described described in a broschure produced by the World Vision Asia Pacific Regional Office.

To downlowd the broschure "Protecting Children Post-Disaster" (PDF), click here.