Researching Post-Emergency Recovery for Very Young Children
ECD IN EMERGENCIES
Researching Post-emergency Recovery for Very Young
Children
By Sithu Wai, Macquarie University
A Case Study from Myanmar
A
s part of a PhD research project1,
Dr. Sithu Wai is researching ways to assess post emergency needs of young children affected by disasters and conflicts.
The anticipated outcome is an enhanced assessment framework which takes into account holistic needs of young children and their families.
The investigation includes an assessment of the humanitarian response to the needs of young children, including ways in which community capacity and community resilience impacts the recovery process for children and families.
Where the Project is Conducted
The project is conducted in the Irrawaddy
Delta region of Myanmar, officially the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which was devastated by a category IV cyclone
(Nargis)
Myanmar is the second largest country on the mainland Southeast Asia. Cyclone
Nargis, the deadliest cyclone in the history of Myanmar, battered Irrawaddy Delta on
2-3 May 2008. With wind intensity of over
200 kilometres per hour, the cyclone claimed about 140,000 lives (TCG, 2010) and severely affected about 2.4 million out of the
7.35 million living in the affected township
(Lateef, 2009).
Target Respondents
The research project was conducted in
2011, three years after the cyclone. The project targets children who were 2 – 4 years of age at the time of the disaster. With the focus on the affected children, now aged 5
– 7 years, the research involves gathering data from caregivers, community leaders and key service providers through the use
incorporate holistic assessment including exploring needs, vulnerabilities, capacities and interactions among children and
Why Focus on the Young? families affected by a disaster or crisis and
Young children are undergoing profound humanitarian aid programmes. physical, mental, social and spiritual development during the
Researching Post-emergency Recovery for Very Young
Children
By Sithu Wai, Macquarie University
A Case Study from Myanmar
A
s part of a PhD research project1,
Dr. Sithu Wai is researching ways to assess post emergency needs of young children affected by disasters and conflicts.
The anticipated outcome is an enhanced assessment framework which takes into account holistic needs of young children and their families.
The investigation includes an assessment of the humanitarian response to the needs of young children, including ways in which community capacity and community resilience impacts the recovery process for children and families.
Where the Project is Conducted
The project is conducted in the Irrawaddy
Delta region of Myanmar, officially the
Republic of the Union of Myanmar, which was devastated by a category IV cyclone
(Nargis)
Myanmar is the second largest country on the mainland Southeast Asia. Cyclone
Nargis, the deadliest cyclone in the history of Myanmar, battered Irrawaddy Delta on
2-3 May 2008. With wind intensity of over
200 kilometres per hour, the cyclone claimed about 140,000 lives (TCG, 2010) and severely affected about 2.4 million out of the
7.35 million living in the affected township
(Lateef, 2009).
Target Respondents
The research project was conducted in
2011, three years after the cyclone. The project targets children who were 2 – 4 years of age at the time of the disaster. With the focus on the affected children, now aged 5
– 7 years, the research involves gathering data from caregivers, community leaders and key service providers through the use
incorporate holistic assessment including exploring needs, vulnerabilities, capacities and interactions among children and
Why Focus on the Young? families affected by a disaster or crisis and
Young children are undergoing profound humanitarian aid programmes. physical, mental, social and spiritual development during the
References: Aguilar, P., & Retamal, G. (2009). Protective environments Edwards, & Jumper-Thurman, 2005). (2003). At Risk: Natural Hazards, People’s Vulnerability and Disasters: Routledge. Christoplos, I. (2006). Links between relief, rehabilitation and development in the tsunami IASC. (2007). Initial Rapid Assessment (IRA): Guidance Notes Lateef, F. (2009). Cyclone Nargis and Myanmar: A wake up call of a sudden-onset crisis in order to guide the initial planning of urgent humanitarian interventions, identify needs for follow up assessments, and inform initial funding decisions (IASC, 2007).