By including children in disaster preparenedness and responses can we reduce their vulnerability
South and Central Asia Situational Analysis
An emergency is a situation where lives, physical and mental well-being, or development opportunities for children are threatened as a result of armed conflict, disaster or the breakdown of social or legal order, and where local capacity to cope is exceeded or inadequate.
Due to unjust sociopolitical legacies, conflict has deepened ranging from caste, class, religious and ethnic to communal conflicts. This has contributed to inadequate government institutions, corruption, weak political will, insecurity and poverty. Disputes among family members due to worsening economical conditions and increasingconflict has its greatest impact on marginalised children and women’s lives.
The number of internal conflicts appears to be growing in the region due to inadequate attention and inability of the state to address the conflict issues. 25 years of armed conflict in Afghanistan and droughts for the past 10 years have on-going negative effects on children. Pakistan has seen a rise in extremism and political violence, while also Bangladesh has been facing political turmoil and violence. In Sri Lanka the conflict lasted 26 years, while Nepal and Tajikistan are in vulnerable post conflict situations.
The occurrence of disasters has increased threefold since the 1970s and it is expected to increase in the coming years. The terrible Asian Tsunami, December 2004 and South Asian Earthquake, October 2005 remind us how prone Asia is to natural and human-made disasters.
South and Central Asia is an emergency prone area. Three out of four persons killed in natural disasters in the world live in Asia. The link between disasters, vulnerability and failed development is well known.
In India about 60% of the landmass is prone to earthquakes, over 40 million hectare is prone to floods, about 8% of the total area is prone to cyclones and 68% of the area is susceptible to drought. About 30 million people are affected by disasters in India every year.
Floods and landslides in Nepal affect 62 out of the 75 districts. Bangladesh is frequently hit by disasters, particularly floods, cyclones and drought. In Sri Lanka floods, landslides, tidal waves, cyclones and droughts are widespread.
Political instability and disasters hamper development. Lack of protection and harsh living conditions put children at risk for abuse and exploitation. Children are perceived as mere victims and therefore, there needs are not adequately addressed in policies and rehabilitations programmes carried out by state and non-state actors. Children and youth have a right to participate in efforts to protect themselves from hazards and vulnerabilities,particularly through their participation in decisions and efforts to address disaster management and risk reduction.