Dangers of disease and exploitation grow in aftermath

MISSISSAUGA, ON. - Child victims of the devastating Southeast Asian Tsunamis will be at greater risk of disease, sexual and physical abuse and prolonged family separation if child protection measures are not considered in the initial humanitarian response.

The warning from international aid organization World Vision comes amid evidence that children are among the most affected by the catastrophe. Tens of thousands of children have been killed and millions more have been left orphaned or homeless.

"The pictures of dazed and grieving children wandering around amid the devastation underlines the extraordinary vulnerability they face amid this disaster," said Heather MacLeod, World Vision International child protection director. "Their vulnerability means they are among the most at risk of the diseases that now threaten to kill thousands more."

World Vision has called for the international effort to respond to the Tsunami crisis to involve child protection experts and must include measures such as the creation of child-friendly spaces and a system to identify separated children.

The child-friendly spaces provide children with a safe place to play and talk with other children, a chance to return to a routine and an opportunity for parents to feel that their children have some sense of normalcy. These environments mean children will soon be able to participate in structured educational activities and receive essential emotional support.

World Vision has stated that unless special child protection measures are put in place at the outset of the emergency response to the Asian Tsunamis the suffering of children could be prolonged. They can also be exposed to new dangers such as sexual abuse and exploitation.

Relief workers and government officials in Sri Lanka and Thailand are already warnings about the dangers that arise when there are inadequate procedures surrounding the movement of children are inadequate. Often children are separated from family members and placed in temporary care shelters with thousands of other people. In this environment no specific person watches over them, as a result children can often miss out on receiving life-saving aid such as vaccines, clean water and food.

"In fact we now know that any action that separates children from their parent or person whom they are attached to in the community greatly increases the risk a child faces," said Linda Tripp, vice president, World Vision Canada.

"Children will be experiencing an incredible sense of loss and grief - loss of home, family members, friends, safety, health, education and most importantly hope," said Tripp. " They need to know that whatever they feel is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation. They are not going crazy. They need to be with people they know and need to feel as safe as possible. They also need to establish a daily routine as soon as possible as this reduces their fears and creates an atmosphere that helps them think into the future."

To contribute to World Vision call 1-800-268-5528.

World Vision is an international Christian relief and development organization active in more than 90 countries around the world, providing help to more than 85 million people each year.