Japan: Concern for Children Impacted by Historic Flooding
Save the Children Japan has deployed its emergency response team to assess the needs of children in the Mabi district of Kurashiki city, Okayama prefecture, after record rainfall left more than 4,600 houses there flooded.
More than 100 people have died and over 80 people are still missing after heavy rains caused landslides, as well as flooding, in western Japan.
There are approximately 4,000 children in Mabi, one of the worst affected areas. Save the Children's team will determine the need for Child Friendly Spaces, which provide children a safe place to play and begin to recover from the trauma they may have experienced because of the flooding.
"The situation for children is likely to be chaotic and stressful,” Kunio Senga, head of Save the Children in Japan said. “Families face uncertainty about how long they will be spending away from home, and don't know what they will find on their return.
"Our teams will look particularly at the needs of children, and determine whether we can help provide a safe space for those who may have been affected by the disaster."
Save the Children has also set up a webpage to help guide parents and other adults through assessing the psychosocial wellbeing of children to ensure they are getting adequate support.
In times of crisis, when children are at their most vulnerable, Save the Children is there. We are always at the ready — and always among the first agencies that help during natural disasters. Delivering lifesaving emergency relief. And staying as long as it takes to ensure children and families can recover from the losses, restore their lives and build their resilience for years to come. Wherever and whenever children need us most, we are there. No one knows when the next earthquake, flood or tsunami will strike. But we do know children are severely affected by natural disasters. They also suffer greatly during conflict, drought and disease outbreaks. Save the Children’s natural disaster response and emergency relief programs help protect vulnerable boys and girls during disasters and their aftermath.
Source: Save the Children
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