Responses to young children in post-emergency situations
Responses to young children in post-emergency situations
Responses to young children in post-emergency situations
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Pho<strong>to</strong>: BICE/ NANBAN / RTUT<br />
<strong>to</strong> what people are ask<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
you have <strong>to</strong> hear what they are<br />
tell<strong>in</strong>g you. You have <strong>to</strong> look at<br />
the needs. You must f<strong>in</strong>d out<br />
what the people themselves can<br />
offer, the resources they carry<br />
with<strong>in</strong> them, and f<strong>in</strong>ally, you<br />
have <strong>to</strong> assess your assets and<br />
resources <strong>to</strong> see what you can<br />
do. That is how we knew what<br />
we could do right away, what<br />
must be done with<strong>in</strong> a few<br />
months, and what is go<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong><br />
take two or three years.<br />
The most severly hit age group are <strong>children</strong> between 5 and 11 years old<br />
over the years, this is the first time that we worked<br />
so closely with other bodies. We had <strong>to</strong>. There was<br />
no time <strong>to</strong> th<strong>in</strong>k alone. The problem before us was<br />
<strong>to</strong>o huge.<br />
How did you develop the idea of three phases?<br />
This was based on my previous experience when<br />
I first developed the programme <strong>to</strong> combat sexual<br />
abuse and exploitation. You have <strong>to</strong> first of all listen<br />
By early May, we were just<br />
end<strong>in</strong>g the second phase. Not<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g an <strong>emergency</strong> agency<br />
we had a lot of learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>to</strong><br />
do. It was not always easy<br />
for us <strong>to</strong> understand that the<br />
government or officials have<br />
certa<strong>in</strong> rules, about food<br />
distribution for example.<br />
When we thought we<br />
were provid<strong>in</strong>g <strong>emergency</strong><br />
assistance, they <strong>in</strong>sisted we<br />
follow regulations. One ngo<br />
brought material for 150<br />
thatched huts, and put them all<br />
up so that people could move<br />
back <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> their own shelters.<br />
The government official<br />
made them take everyth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
down aga<strong>in</strong> because the huts<br />
had been built <strong>to</strong>o close <strong>to</strong><br />
each other, and if one caught<br />
fire the whole place would<br />
burn down. It made sense,<br />
of course, but we were upset<br />
all the same. It is important <strong>to</strong> really know what<br />
<strong>emergency</strong> assistance is about – compared <strong>to</strong> longterm<br />
development.<br />
Also, the people who live along the seashore are<br />
pretty rough. We had <strong>to</strong> learn <strong>to</strong> understand their<br />
way and not be turned away. Once the police<br />
s<strong>to</strong>pped me and asked what I was do<strong>in</strong>g. I said I<br />
was help<strong>in</strong>g the tsunami people. “Don’t waste your<br />
money on them,” he said, “they will sell what you<br />
B e r n a r d v a n L e e r Fo u n d a t i o n 26 E a r l y C h i l d h o o d M a t t e r s • Ju l y 2 0 0 5