Here is more on early child development in emergency settings, from the UNICEF website:
https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/early-childhood-care-emergencies-and-fragi...
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Early childhood development care in emergency situations is essential, as it provides immediate and vital support from multiple sectors and services that children need, such as housing, health, nutrition, protection, education and psychosocial support in a safe and nurturing environment.
However, children under 8 years of age continue to be one of the most invisible groups when planning actions aimed at reducing the impacts of disasters. Some reasons may be:
Attempts are made first to respond to more visible needs, such as housing, food, etc.
The specific needs of people according to their evolutionary cycle are not considered.
Young children are considered "too young to realize what is happening".
There is no sex- or age-disaggregated data showing the impact and specific needs of young children (including newborns) in emergencies and violent contexts.
The risks to which young children are exposed and the measures that can be taken to prevent or respond appropriately to them are unknown.
There is a lack of evidence-based knowledge management on the harmful impacts of early childhood emergencies.
Why are emergency interventions for early childhood development important and a priority?
During 2021, between January and October, Migración Colombia registered a record number of migrants in Necoclí (Antioquia, northeastern Colombia) with more than 90,610 people, mainly of Haitian and Cuban nationalities. UNICEF was present to provide attention to the migrant and host population with more than six water distribution points on the Necoclí beach.
UNICEF/UN0558634/Tomás Mendez
Today, millions of young children around the world live in environments that expose them to trauma and multiple deprivations, leaving them at risk of experiencing toxic stress and limiting them from reaching their full developmental potential.
As we know, during the early years of life when rapid and complex brain development occurs, a child can be exceptionally sensitive to environmental influences, as well as to the negative impacts of emergencies and conflicts, including humanitarian crises and migration.
Children who experience prolonged exposure to adverse events, chronic poverty, nutritional deprivation or exposure to violence and conflict are at increased risk of developing cognitive, behavioral and emotional difficulties, which can have multidimensional and long-term impacts in adulthood.
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CHIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org