Children in disaster risk reduction

WHEREAS children's participation in the development process is recognised, the recognition of their participation in disaster risk reduction is a rising concern. Although much attention is given to the needs of children in emergencies, it is mostly from the perspective of adults acting on behalf, and in the best interest, of children.
There is less focus on working with, and not working for, children in reducing their vulnerabilities and disaster risk. While much of the support for children needs to be in the context of their family, community and culture, there should be an increased focus in working with children.
Children are one of the most vulnerable groups during a disaster. Factors such as their age affect their vulnerability and shape their ability to cope and survive in a disaster context. Children have needs that must be met for their healthy growth and development. Beside physical threat to life, experiences of fear, violence, separation from parents and caregivers, exploitation and abuse threaten their well-being. The loss of livelihood of their families can lead to homelessness and extreme poverty. Exposure to disaster can affect development potential and psychosocial condition of children.
Children are ignored in decision-making. Nevertheless, they have a role to play before, during and after floods. Their participation in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), highlighting their capacities in reducing disaster risks, should be ensured.
Children are never regarded as active participants in evaluations of disaster risks, especially in Community Risk Assessments (CRA). It places communities in the lead role in reducing the community's risk to disasters. The focus is on identifying the most vulnerable groups in a community, and explores what local capacities can be used to enhance the resilience of the community.
Children's participation should not be seen as an isolated event, but as a process where children are supported, encouraged and engaged by adults. Formation of a children's organisation and training them to use the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) approach can be a useful option. Children can develop a work plan, then carry it out using their own methods, and from their findings, they can analyse their risks and capacities and develop their own risk reduction plans. This process can be incorporated into the CRA process.
It is also important to have children as active members of disaster planning groups in disaster prone areas. Only through recognition of the importance of including children in decision-making can lasting changes be made. Training and dissemination of information about children participation should be highlighted in future policies.
Bangladesh is currently reviewing its Standing Order on Disaster Management, which identifies roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders before, during and after a disaster. However, to get children recognised and have the standing order changed requires time. However, changing the mindset of adults can automatically lead to changes not only at grassroots level, but also at national level. By taking bottom up (training adults & children leading CRAs) and top down approaches can lead to significant change at both levels.
To ensure such a child-participation process, CRA work should be conducted through schools. For teaching teachers to facilitate the CRA process and giving children school assignments to carry out, PRA tools are more sustainable than merely forming children's organisations.
Not only do children and youth have unique needs in disasters, they also offer a potential role as a resource or receiver of information. Young people can act as informants within unofficial communication networks which evolve within a community as the need arises. In communities with high poverty indices, children and youth already play a major role as interpreters and relayers of messages to their households and communities. Children offer immense creativity and the will to reduce risk. When given the resources and the opportunity to take action, children can become catalysts of simple yet significant strategies to make their communities safer.
Therefore, it is the call of time that policy makers and practitioners realise the potential and benefits of including children in the disaster risk assessment and reduction process by making necessary changes in the policy.

Azmarina Tanzir is a post graduate student of Dept. of Development Studies, Dhaka University, and a development worker. E-mail: [email protected].