Emergency Care Arrangements

The priority for unaccompanied children in an emergency is to reunite them with their parents, family members, or relatives as quickly as possible, in order to provide them with care and protection. Where this is not immediately possible, children will require emergency care until reunification is possible via documentation and tracing activities.

Emergency care should cater to the child’s basic shelter, security, food and health needs, on a level that is comparable to the local community in order to avoid encouraging further family separations. Children should be kept fully informed of efforts to locate family, and any interim care plans. All agencies offering care must follow and international standards, and coordinate with the local authority.

The preferred care will usually be with temporary caretakers from the community, rather than in institutions, since this provides continuity and greater protection. Children associated with armed forces may require interim care, if immediate family reunification is not possible and in their best interests. Spontaneous care situations, such as kinship, foster care, and child headed households should be screened, monitored and supported to ensure children are protected and their basic needs and rights are being met. In some cases an alternative placement may be necessary. Where family members cannot be located, a longer term care plan should be formulated, however adoption must only be considered after all tracing and reunification activities have been exhausted over a substantial period of time.

Support programs should include all affected children, and should not target or isolate separated children. They should strengthen the community’s natural coping methods and support structures, and will therefore include community and child participation in decision making processes. All placements must be fully documented to facilitate tracing and reunification activities. Reunification should be the immediate goal for all children, unless this is not in their best interests.

The documents in this section relate to emergency care guidelines and examples from around the world.

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Assessment of Appropriate Alternative Care Choices for Children without Primary Caregivers in Tsunami Affected Countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand

Lourdes G. Balanon, Wilhelmina B. Dacanay, Ma. Lyra T. del Castillo, and Marilyn F. Manuel - ISS Philippines, 28 Nov 2005

This presentation was given at the Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005.

Alternative Care in Cambodia

UNICEF, 01 Nov 2005

This presentation from UNICEF provides an overview of the situation in Cambodia, particulary for children without parental care, and the alternative care system in the country.

Caring for Children Deprived of Parental Care in Indonesia

01 Nov 2005

This presentation provides an overview of the situation in Indonesia for children without parental care in a post-tsunami context and the alternative care system in the country.

Alternative Care Workshop November 2005

01 Nov 2005

This presentation includes the objectives and agenda from an Alternative Care Workshop held in Bangkok in November 2005 to present findings from a study on alternative care choices for children affected by the Tsunami in South East Asia and to share experiences and best practices related to children's care.

Alternative Care in Laos PDR

01 Nov 2005

This presentation, delivered at an Alternative Care Workshop in Bangkok in November 2005, provides an outline of alternative care in Laos.

Alternative Care in Myanmar

UNICEF, 01 Nov 2005

This presentation from UNICEF provides an overview of the situation in Myanmar, particulary for children without parental care, and the alternative care system, or lack thereof, in the country.

The Lost Ones: Emergency Care And Family Tracing for Children from Birth to Five Years

Marie de la Soudière, Jan Williamson, and Jacqueline Botte, 2005

A manual primarily concerned with the prevention of separation of children during emergencies. It provides a field-oriented guide to solve problems specific to emergency care and tracing and family reunification of babies and children five years and younger.

Mental and Social Health During and After Acute Emergencies: Emerging Consensus?

Mark van Ommeren, Shekhar Saxena, and Benedetto Saraceno, 2005

A summary of the debate on the value of PTSD and trauma-focused care during and after acute emergencies. Argues for and outlines distinct intervention strategies to be considered for acute emergency and post-emergency phases.

Protecting Children During Emergencies in Nigeria: A Toolkit for Trainers

Emily Delap, Fred Kasozi and Denis Onoise, 2005

A comprehensive training toolkit for organizations and individuals who are directly involved in child protection and welfare during emergencies. Covers key topics related to children in emergencies, and includes learning points, classroom and field exercises, suggested itineraries and handouts.

Guidelines for Gender-Based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Focusing on Prevention of and Response to Sexual Violence in Emergencies

United Nations Inter-Agency Standing Committee, 2005

Comprehensive guidelines for dealing with the planning, establishment, and coordination of multisectoral interventions to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence.