Disasters touch the lives of millions of children every year in many forms. These include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, or floods; human-made disasters of armed conflict, genocide, industrial accidents, or terrorism; and disease outbreaks. Interest in the impact of disasters on children among scientists dates back decades to the beginnings of research into risk and resilience in development.
The goal of the special section on disasters and child development was to provide an opportunity for researchers around the world to examine how disasters of nature and human design might affect children of different ages, experiences, cultures, and contexts, as well as how exposure to a disaster may alter developmental processes or developmental trajectories.
Studies from a number of countries are presented: Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Kenya, Turkey, Sri Lanka and USA. Clear policy recommendations are presented.
Link to the journal Link to the Childwatch page on Children in Emergencies