Child Protection Support to Children and Families Affected by Super Typhoon Rai

To support children and their families who were affected by the Super Typhoon Rai, Terre des Hommes Netherlands in the Philippines implemented this emergency response project in line with its goal of stopping child exploitation. The project was able to raise the awareness of children and adults on protection risks and what can be done to address these, It was able to support affected children and families through the provision of shelter repair kits, cash for training, and referrals to the concerned authorities for specialised needs such as MHPSS (Mental Health and Psychosocial Support). Under this initiative, reporting and referral mechanisms were also established and strengthened at the local level.

children typhoon recovery

Sunshine Kristia Cupo

Programme Manager

“Children, during emergencies, are at greater risk due to weakened child protection systems and disruption of preventive mechanisms. With the Philippines’ current situation and the increasing negative impacts brought by disasters, the worsening climate and other shocks, it becomes an imperative to respond to the needs of children during emergencies and humanitarian crises in order to prevent further the escalation of child abuse and exploitation cases.”

Background

The Philippines, geographically located within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the Pacific typhoon belt, is considered one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to natural disasters and climate impacts. An average of 20 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) every year and roughly 900 earthquakes are recorded annually. In 2021, eight years after Super Typhoon Haiyan (the most destructive storm to ever hit the Philippines), Super Typhoon Rai brought similar torrential rains, violent winds, mudslides, floods and storm surges to central parts of the Philippines, leaving a wide path of destruction and debris in its wake. Super Typhoon Rai damaged 1.57 million homes (500,000 more than Haiyan) across eleven of the Philippines’ seventeen regions, displacing around 180,000-200,000 people. In times of emergencies such as this, children are at their most vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse, as they can be easily coaxed with the promise of basic needs like food and shelter. Children also face greater risks of exploitation in rescue shelters, and even more so when they are separated from their families. Moreover, from a cultural perspective, children may be forced to work to help and support their families, which in turn, may expose them to hard labour and its harmful effects. With critical lifelines and facilities being the main priorities of the government, child protection would need more attention.

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