The natural disasters that have affected the Southern United States, the Caribbean and Mexico this September have brought an incredible amount of distress to US and Latin American local populations. In times like these it is important that we come together as a global community and do our part in the emergency relief efforts in these areas.
Equity for Children is collaborating with local partners in Mexico to help children affected by the recent earthquakes in the country in September. Based on information and guides developed after natural disasters in the past few years, we are providing below resources to help children and their families as they rebuild their lives in the aftermath of a hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster.
World Vision International’s Children in Emergencies Manual was written for members of communities who may be called upon to act in response to a natural disaster. It provides tools and templates that can be used for both disaster responses and preparedness. It covers key concerns for children, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and sections such as assessments that can be used as stand alone chapters for more focused discussions.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society outlines various games and guidelines to engage youth in risk reduction strategies. The key aim is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries from disasters and to increase local communities’ capacity to address the most urgent situations of vulnerability. These goals can be accomplished through informal education and games about disaster risk reduction.
UNICEF’s Guidelines for Child-Friendly Spaces in Emergencies speaks to the critical need of using Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) as a first response tool and the main entry point for working with affected communities. The overall purpose is to support the resilience and well-being of the children in the community by having an organized and safe environment where they can partake in structured and stimulating activities. This serves as a practical guide for field teams and community members affected by various types and contexts of disasters.