On 14th December, Save the Children, Plan, World Vision, working with UNICEF, organized consultations with 124 children and young people in Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Leyte and East and West Samar to listen to their views about the humanitarian situation six weeks after the Typhoon in the Philippines, find out what their priorities are and ask for suggestions to improve the response. Among the priorities identified by children and young people were rebuilding homes, returning to school, and restoring electricity. Many highlighted that they were fearful of another typhoon but also wanted to learn more about how they could prevent and prepare for future events. Many were also taking on new roles and responsibilities to help their families and communities to recover.
The Children's Needs Assessment found that children and young people remain profoundly affected by what they lived through on the 8th of November; it concludes that psychosocial support for children and young people to recover from trauma must remain a priority for the recovery. The participants also recommended that the Government of the Philippines convene consultations with children and young people in the forthcoming Post-Disaster Needs Assessment so that their insights, perspectives and views on the recovery and rehabilitation of their communities are included in the final assessment.
©Save the Children, World Vision, Plan International and UNICEF.
