Children facing increasing threats in East Africa

18 July 2011

As former President Mary Robinson visits northern Kenya today to draw international attention to the devastating drought hitting East Africa, the international aid agency, World Vision, is warning of the special needs of children affected by the crisis.

Up to half a million children may be separated from their families and loved ones, increasing their vulnerability in the midst of the crisis, according to World Vision.

Children

“In any emergency, we see worryingly high levels of unaccompanied and separated children, but this drought is potentially worse than others because of the long distances families have to travel to seek help,” said World Vision Ireland, Chief Executive Helen Keogh.

“Some parents are leaving children at home as they search for food, in the belief they will be safe there; others are sending their older children out to find food, water and income, while they watch over the family homes. This highlights the increased risks children are facing as a result of this crisis.”

Vulnerable

“Unaccompanied children are more vulnerable to neglect, abuse, exploitation, disease and malnutrition, so we must ensure the focus on them is not lost” added Ms Keogh.

“All efforts must be taken to keep families together, and where children do become separated we need to focus on tracing families and reuniting children with their parents or caregivers wherever possible.”

Relief

To help reduce the impact on children, steps must be taken to ensure children suffering risk and vulnerability are not left out of aid efforts. At food distribution centres, World Vision ensures at least one staff member is appointed to act as a social worker to identify vulnerable children and to ensure others are not separated from their families.

Child-headed households and separated children are issued ration cards in their own names and receive special distributions of food and non-food items as necessary.

The Horn of Africa region, particularly Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and the Republic of South Sudan, is suffering from the worst drought in nearly 60 years. World Vision is on the ground providing life saving food, water and medical support. 

Please help by making a donation here.

 

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