HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION Save the Children Philippines urges support for the most vulnerable children facing Tropical Storm Kristine’s adverse effects.
According to the group, the education and safety of children hang in the balance, with those at risk being girls, children with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged communities.
Over 7.3 million learners have been displaced, and 17, 764 schools have closed down due to Kristine.
As per Atty. Alberto Muyot, the CEO of Save the Children Philippines: “Children are always the most vulnerable during disasters. When education is interrupted, their entire future is at risk. We need swift and decisive action to protect these children and prevent long-term consequences to their development.”
A need to prioritize children
At the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR), Save the Children Philippines advocate Candice Espela told ministers that there was a need to prioritize children during disasters.
She called for all governments to promote school safety by integrating disaster education and community awareness programs.
At this same event, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. also stressed the important role that local government units (LGUs) play in terms of disaster preparedness.
“We must ensure that no one is left behind, especially children,” he stated as he called for more inclusive strategies.
In line with this, Save the Children Philippines advocates heavily for the acceleration of the implementation of the Comprehensive Emergency Program for Children (CEPC) through LGUs, which would help to keep both the safety and education of children safe, even in times of crisis.
As per a document from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there are eight tenets to this program:
- Establishment of evacuation centers
- Establishment of child and women-friendly transitional shelters and a referral mechanism for orphaned, unaccompanied, and separated children
- Assurance for immediate delivery of basic necessities and services
- Stronger measures to ensure safety of affected children
- Delivery of health, medical, and nutritional services
- Plan of action for prompt resumption of educational services in children
- Establishment of child-friendly spaces in evacuation centers and transitional sites
- Promotion of children’s rights
Save the Children Philippines raises Republic Act 10821, the “Children’s Emergency Relief and Protection Act”, stating that LGUs should follow the CEPC by establishing child-friendly spaces, gender-sensitive hygiene facilities, and protections against exploitation.
This will ensure education continuity, health services, and rapid assistance to safeguard children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers before, during, and after an emergency.
#LahatDapatSafe
In the past, Save the Children Philippines launched a campaign against hunger and malnutrition, urging both the government and the public to work toward reducing public malnutrition and achieving the country’s Millenium Development Goals.
Some calls made by this campaign were the prioritization of nutrition, allocations in the budget for equitable nutrition policies and programs, cutting down on child mortality, investing more in LGUs, and supporting the First 1,000 Days Bill, which was meant to protect Filipino mothers and children from malnutrition via the establishment of a maternal and child health care program.
Now, Save the Children Philippines has launched the Lahat Dapat Safe Campaign, created to assess the situations and needs of children and families affected by Kristine.
At present, they are conducting rapid impact assessment and are on standby to provide lifesaving essentials and back-to-school kits, collaborating with partners like Lifestrong Marketing Inc. and FWD to do so.
As per Muyot: “We call on companies, groups, and individuals to pledge ahead of emergencies to enable timely emergency responses. When children are most vulnerable, we are the first to respond and the last to leave. Together, we can build a future where every child is safe and protected – Lahat Dapat Safe.”
For further information on how you can help, you can visit Save the Children Philippines’s website or call them at (632) 8682-7283, or fax them at (+632) 8682-7283 local 300.
