Disasters have differential impacts on communities and groups depending on their socio economic status as well as geographical locations which are vulnerable not just to climate and natural disasters but difficult terrain and access to resources (Drolet et al. 2015). Globally there is an increasing recognition that children as one of the most vulnerable groups during disasters, face various problems and challenges related to health, food availability and nutrition, education, shelter, risks of physical and sexual abuse, trafficking and child labour (Bartlett 2008; Flåte 2018; Seballos et al. 2011; WHO 2007).

This paper looks into the differential impacts, vulnerabilities and needs of children and their families during emergencies in Nepal. Based on the study, we argue that children are one of the most vulnerable groups in the event of a disaster as they have impacts and needs specific to them due to a number of factors – first, economic hardships and mental distress in the family following disasters are the main reasons that adversely affect children and the fulfilment of basic needs such as food, hygiene and shelter as well as long term needs of continued education and mental wellbeing. Second, children, especially, those below 10, are unable to effectively articulate their needs and hence are more prone to the emotional/psychological upheavals that emanate in the aftermath of the disasters.

The study was carried out in the three research sites – Gaur in Rautahat District; Barhabise in Sindhupalchowk District; and Thuladurlung in Lalitpur District during the period between August and December 2018. The study covered different types of disasters namely floods, earthquake and landslides. The study utilised a qualitative approach that included a review and analysis of the literature and key policies on disaster and children; key informant interviews (KIIs) with government institutions, non-governmental organisations, local leaders and activists; semi-structured interviews (SSIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with parents and in some cases grandparents of children from the age cohorts of 0-3, 3-5 and 5-8.

References

Bartlett, Sheridan. 2008. “The Implications of Climate Change for Children in Lower-Income Countries.” Children, Youth and Environments 18, no.1:71-98.

Drolet, Julie, Lena Dominelli, Margaret Alston, Robin Ersing, Golam Mathbor and Haorui Wu. 2015. ‘Women rebuilding lives post-disaster: innovative community practices for building resilience and promoting sustainable development.’ Gender and Development Vol.3, No. 23: 433-448.

Flåte, Kathrine Olsen.2018. “Human Trafficking following the 2015 Nepal Earthquake: A case study of how a natural disaster impacts people’s vulnerabilities and the role disaster response and recovery plays in countering it.” Master’s diss., Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Seballos, Fran, Thomas Tanner, Marcela Tarazona and Jose Gallegos. 2011. Children and Disasters: Understanding Impact and Enabling Agency. Children in a changing climate research report.

WHO. 2007. Food and Nutrition in Emergencies. World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Food Program (WFP).

1 This paper is based on the study, ‘Children in Emergencies: Situation Analysis and Policy Review’, funded by Save the Children Nepal and carried out by Social Science Baha.