Disaster Risk Reduction and Child Protection Technical Note

Disaster Risk Reduction and Child Protection Technical Note

1.  Background

1.1 Purpose

In response to UNICEF’s recognition of an increase in disaster risk, due in part to rapid urbanisation, environmental degradation and climate change, UNICEF developed a Programme Guidance Note on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in March 2011. In support of this, a series of five Technical Notes, one for each of UNICEF’s five main programme sectors (Health, Nutrition, Education, WASH and Child Protection), has been developed. These are intended to help practitioners identify how sector work can contribute to reducing disaster risk.

1.2 Disaster Risk and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Disaster risk is the potential loss expressed in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which could occur in a particular community or a society due to the impact of a natural hazard.[1] In other words, disaster risk is a ‘disaster waiting to happen’, as is the case for the high numbers of vulnerable people forced to live on flood plains, in drought prone areas or in unplanned urban settlements.

Disaster risk is commonly understood as a function of hazards, vulnerability, exposure and capacities, which can be described in the following formula:

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) is a systematic approach to identifying, assessing and reducing that risk. Specifically, the purpose of disaster risk reduction is to minimise vulnerabilities and disaster risks throughout a society in order to avoid (prevent) or to limit (mitigate and prepare for) the adverse impacts of natural hazards, and facilitate sustainable development.

In 2005, a global framework for DRR was developed and endorsed by 168 UN member states. The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) ‘Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters’ highlights five priorities for action for reducing disaster risk: (1) making DRR a priority, (2) identifying, assessing and monitoring risks, (3) building understanding and awareness, (4) reducing the underlying risk factors, and (5) strengthening preparedness at all levels.[2]

This technical note provides practical guidance to adapting UNICEF’s existing programmes to protect them from disasters, to decrease disaster risks and to build individual and community-level resilience.[3]

1.3  UNICEF and DRR

Disasters negatively impact children’s and women’s rights, disproportionately affect poor countries and poor communities, erode development gains and set back progress in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Increased school drop-out, high incidence of disease and mortality, and a worsening of the nutrition status in the affected population are all likely results of a disaster. Disaster risk is therefore not only the highest among the most vulnerable but exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and inequalities of girls, boys, women and men.

While poor development or under-development are key drivers of disaster risk, humanitarian action too can influence disaster risk. UNICEF therefore considers disasters as both a development and a humanitarian concern. UNICEF has incorporated DRR in its Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCC) and is taking steps to incorporate DRR throughout its programme sectors. To facilitate this, UNICEF is increasingly including a multi-hazard risk assessment in the country office Situation Analyses.[4]

With its local, sub-national and national presence before, during and after disasters, UNICEF is well placed to support the capacity development of governments/partners. This not only helps ensure social services are ‘risk informed’ but can better link community DRR projects with national, provincial and district level policies and plans.

Whilst these Technical Notes focus on what each programme sector can contribute towards reducing disaster risk, it is important to recognise that effective risk reduction requires multi-sectoral action. Moreover, DRR also requires linking effectively with policies and programmes in social protection, conflict prevention and other risk management approaches that contribute to resilience.

UNICEF has developed four goals for its DRR work (adapted from the Hyogo Framework for Action priorities) to ensure efforts to reduce disaster risk focus specifically on children:

2.  Child Protection and DRR

2.1 Introduction

Disasters can heighten the vulnerability of children in many ways, by disrupting the protective mechanisms provided by the state, schools, community and family, and putting additional strain on family resources. As a result, girls and boys in disaster affected areas may be at increased risk of neglect, separation, abandonment, abuse, economic exploitation, illegal adoption and multiple forms of violence. These may stem from inadequate coping mechanisms by families and communities. Evidence shows, for example, that domestic violence often increases in the aftermath of a disaster. Unaccompanied girls and boys, child-headed households and women often face particular risks, including trafficking, forced marriage (including bride sales for girls), child labour, survival sex and forced prostitution.

The experience of living through disaster, as well as the uncertainties of its aftermath, can also highly affect the psychosocial well being of children and their caregivers. It is normal for children to have grief and sadness, following experiences such as the death of friends, the destruction of their homes, sense of security and changes in normal routines. During such situations, children are usually better protected by their parents or the person who takes care of them on a regular basis. However, when disasters do occur, children will have an increased need for reassurance, additional time and attention, and establishment of regular routine as early as possible. Engagement of children in recovery or rehabilitation efforts, within their level of capacity, can build their self-esteem and enhance relationships within the community. A lack of such care and attention can increase children’s sense of powerlessness and loss, and as a result, they can become more vulnerable to violence, abuse and exploitation Where natural hazards are known and anticipated by communities, particularly cyclical floods and storms, families and communities can be better prepared and more capable of managing such crisis situations.

Strong child protection measures can play an important role in preventing or reducing the possible consequences of a natural hazard, preventing it from becoming a disaster, and helping to create a safer and more resilient community for children. Child protection and DRR programming, therefore, needs to encompass activities aimed at preventing and responding to the specific protection risks for children in times of disaster. This requires an assessment of potential risks faced by children and drivers of these risks, as well as an analysis of what preventive measures can be developed to mitigate them in conjunction with other sectors.

Much of UNICEF’s existing child protection work is already helping to reduce disaster risk; therefore many of the DRR actions in the table below are not ‘new’ to UNICEF. Instead it is a case of ensuring existing programmes and work are consistently taking into account disaster risk. The first step is to ensure that child protection is part of any multi-hazard risk assessments that take place informing the country situation analysis or at any stage during the UNICEF Country Programme cycle and Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) system.

2.2 Guidance for Child Protection Interventions

The table below provides some sample key interventions that can be made through the child protection sector to reduce disaster risk; it is not intended to be a comprehensive guide. All interventions should form part of a coordinated approach to child protection.