Children witness violence, are compelled to participate in violence, and are victims of violence. When children are exposed to events beyond the normal boundaries of human experience, such as the violence common to war, stress reactions become apparent. Long term effects are likely to have their roots in loss of the child s close emotional relationships and the events surrounding that loss. By integrating a child development perspective into emergency response activities, childrens' varied needs will be addressed. Food distribution and shelter programs can be implemented in ways that promote child protection from physical and emotional harm.
Relief organizations can directly address childrens' needs.
When these immediate emergency needs subside we hope to have more time to address the longer term issues including repatriation and resettlement. This also is not easy, but in a more stable environment we can identify more staff, identify resources from within the community that definitely exist and do longer term planning. Resources, which often are reduced when these issues are off the front page and out of the media eye, can be difficult to obtain and we are depending on the support of both our private donors and other institutional partners to enable Save the Children and the other humanitarian assistance agencies to respond in a comprehensive long term manner. She wants to do a fund-raiser at her school to help in the relief effort and to raise awareness among her peers. It is really important for all of our children to realize what is happening to children and their families affected by this conflict.