Protect children during emergencies
By Editorial.Team, June 26, 2023Children are among the vulnerable groups that have been hit by the effects of climate change. Kenya has experienced drought—the worst ever in 40 years—owing to failed rainfall with children been thrust into the middle of a difficult situation.
Despite several government interventions to cushion children and their families from effects of drought, there has been growing need for more protection measures.
Even worse of is the hard economic situation, which has seen families explore coping mechanisms, given their little or no income at hand. For instance a survey conducted in Turkana, Wajir, Mandera and Garissa by Save the Children reveals that many adolescents continue to be gravely exposed.
According to the report, the youngsters are at risk of sexual violence, abuse, exploitation, criminal gangs, Female Genital Mutilation, dropping out of school and child labor. Similarly, the survey pointed to increased cases of malnutrition with considerable adverse effects to the health and wellbeing of children.
In addition to malnutrition, drought has made a number of children vulnerable to other diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, chickenpox, measles and fever. The organisation says that these social and economic disruption occasioned by drought has resulted in mental and psychological distress among children, adolescents and families.
The study established increased cases of divorce, separation and child abandonment during in the situations that cause unthinkable distress to children and adolescents.
This calls for the need to integrate child protection and safeguarding measures in all drought interventions, preparedness, prevention, response and recovery in addition to enhancing structures to safeguard them n during emergencies.
That the Government has now launched the Child Protection in Emergencies (CPiE) guidelines could not have come at a better time. The guidelines are expected to strengthen coordination, proper planning, timely interventions, structured implementation of services, and data collection for future planning and interventions.
Our plea to all partners in the child protection field is to stay true to their call and ensure inclusion of children in humanitarian work.
It should be emphasised that during and after the drought or any other emergencies, children and adolescents require psychosocial support.