Children’s voices must be heard as communities prepare for disasters

Preparing thoroughly for disasters – such as providing cyclone shelters and warning systems – must be at the heart of future aid work, World Vision has said at an international conference on the issue. The aid agency is playing a key role at the “4th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction” hosted in Geneva this week by the UN – and warns that children’s views must be heard as communities prepare.

The conference follows dramatic scenes in Bangladesh last week as hundreds of World Vision staff and volunteers sprung into action across four countries as Cyclone Mahasen headed across the Bay of Bengal towards Bangladesh. Using megaphones, they warned people the storm was coming and directed them to specially-built shelters.

Maggie Ibrahim, Resilience Manager at World Vision UK, said: “Children can play a vital role in helping to inform their parents and communities and also provide insight into how to reduce the risks that affect them.

“Often results occur when solutions are identified for and with children, such as knowing what to do or where to go in the event of an emergency. Prompt action by families when disasters strike is what saves lives. Seeing children as agents of change within their communities can lead to empowering future generations to deal with changing risks."

In addition to preparedness, how to tackle what drives risk in communities is being shared at the event. Agencies at the conference have also called on global businesses to do more to introduce disaster risk when investing in Asia and the Pacific. So far this century, economic losses alone from disasters amount to 2.5 trillion dollars. 

Children's priorities and experiences in promoting risk reduction are highlighted in the report above. They include:

1. Comprehensive School Safety: Children must have access to uninterrupted quality education including on Disaster Risk Reducation (DRR) and climate change in a safe learning environment (school preparedness and safe structures).

2. Protection: Child protection issues related to disaster and conflict must be recognized as a particular risk to  girls and boys; Child Protection systems that include birth registration, tracing and the participation of children must be established in risk prone areas.

3. Participation and information: Children have a unique and valuable perspective of risk. Children must participate in DRR at national, local and household level. Knowledge and information on risks must be provided to all children, including those not at school. A knowledgeable child (on DRR) is not only safer but is better placed to reduce risk as an adult.

4. Infrastructure: To enjoy their rights, infrastructure including roads, building, bridges, school and health centres must be safe. Moreover, the provision of basic services such as health, water and education, must be informed by risk and adapted accordingly.

5. Reaching the most vulnerable: Inclusive risk assessment and analysis capacities from national to local level must be in place. The particular risks of the most vulnerable and hard to reach children, including those with disability and girls , must be assessed and mitigated accordingly.