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Psycho-Social Support for Protection of Children in Disasters

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Child Safety, Welfare and Well-being

Abstract

Disaster has various disabling effects on society. Many complexities that arise as a result of disaster spell even worse experience for the survivors. Disaster topples the established equilibrium and throws existential challenges to the survivors. Humanitarian supports lent to the survivors are on multiple fronts and rehabilitation turns out to be a long-drawn process. Those hardest hit by disaster are especially children and adolescents who, for that matter, need particular care and attention. With the loss of their nurturing environment, they are left at high risk of various developmental problems and their future looks bleak. They often find themselves as orphans and victims of various abuses due to the loss of caregivers or due to caregivers’ inability to give adequate care in the post disaster phase. There are a number of national and international guidelines and documents that addressed the issues of the protection of the children during disasters. This article presents an overview of disaster and its devastating effect. By referring to the Tsunami rehabilitation project as an example in point, this article suggests possible strategies to ensure protection for children in a school-community-based participatory programme.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Subhasis Bhadra

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  1. Subhasis Bhadra
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Correspondence to Subhasis Bhadra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, Pondicherry, India

    Sibnath Deb

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Bhadra, S. (2016). Psycho-Social Support for Protection of Children in Disasters. In: Deb, S. (eds) Child Safety, Welfare and Well-being. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2425-9_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2425-9_17

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  • Online ISBN: 978-81-322-2425-9

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