When do disasters end for children?

Three years have passed since the February 6 earthquakes. But for children, disasters do not end when a date on the calendar passes.

This is because disasters not only destroy buildings, but also shatter children’s sense of security, daily routines, play areas, nutritional routines, and development processes. Moreover, since much of these losses are invisible, they are often left until last.

Last week, we met with Hasan Deniz from the Mother Child Education Foundation, which works with children in need, parents, and young women to help children grow up safe, healthy, and happy. After the great earthquake of 2023, we talked about being a parent and a child during disasters. This article compiles notes from that online meeting.

Early childhood: An irreplaceable period

Preparation and response to disasters are often discussed in terms of shelter, food, and health. These are, of course, essential. But for children, it is not just about surviving; it is about uninterrupted development.

One of Hasan Deniz’s most emphatic points during the webinar was: “The most critical and decisive period in human development is early childhood. Losses during this period cannot be compensated.”

Early childhood is the period when the foundations of cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development are laid. For a child’s wellbeing in later years, it is vital that this period is spent protected from risks and in a supportive environment. In Deniz’s words, “Having a good and supportive environment during this period determines and affects everything in a very serious way.”

We live in an age of crises; migration, war, and disasters are part of our lives. These crises deeply affect children’s development. However, even if we cannot change the whole world, it is possible to reduce risks through early and appropriate interventions. For this reason, disasters need to be considered in three phases:

1. Before disasters: preparation
2. During disasters: protective and supportive intervention
3. After disasters: long-term care and recovery

Hasan Deniz emphasizes that for children, disaster preparation is not an issue to be remembered in times of crisis; establishing inter-institutional coordination and internalizing a child-centered approach before disasters occur are of vital importance.

Good intentions are not enough

After February 6, as with many other social crises, we endured thanks to solidarity. Some carried supplies to trucks to be sent to the earthquake zone, others set out on the road, took part in search and rescue, or reached out to those in need. Hasan Deniz describes the scene after February 6 as follows: “Everyone is so self-sacrificing, everyone wants to do something.”

But good intentions alone are not enough. The point Deniz particularly highlights is this: interventions for children that are well-intentioned but unplanned, inappropriate for their age, and lack continuity can create new risks instead of offering protection.

Describing a “tremendous cacophony” for children after the second week of the earthquake, Deniz says this clearly shows why planning before and during disasters is vital.

Children recover in predictability, not uncertainty

Post-disaster “temporary” shelters often become living spaces for children that last for months, even years. Hasan Deniz reminds us of this reality:

“For children who will live in temporary shelters for something like three years, it should be thought out in advance where they will play, what programs they will attend.”

Because places that are temporary for adults can leave permanent marks on children’s development.

Hasan Deniz also underlines that, in disasters, safe and age-appropriate spaces for children, environments that integrate play and learning, and repeated, predictable daily routines are not luxuries, but fundamental needs. 

Nutrition: An unseen but vital right

In disaster settings, children are often not “hungry” but undernourished. The lack of essential nutrients such as iron, magnesium, and zinc creates lasting effects on many aspects, from children’s nervous system development to their learning capacity. 

This is exactly why Hasan Deniz stresses that nutrition should not be viewed simply as an aid item, but should be carefully planned as a fundamental component of child development and an indispensable part of post-disaster recovery. 

We cannot protect the child by separating them from the parent

Reminding us that a child’s world largely takes shape through their parent, Hasan Deniz emphasizes that it is not possible to protect the child in disasters without supporting the parent:

“Directly supporting both the child and their close environment is one of the main ways to improve the child’s wellbeing.”

Deniz underlines that post-disaster psychosocial support for parents directly affects the child’s sense of security, attachment relationships, and stress management capacity, and that child protection efforts cannot continue by excluding the parent.

Adolescents: The invisible children of disasters

Another issue particularly underlined in the webinar was adolescence. Hasan Deniz’s field observation is striking: “In container towns, adolescents are almost ignored.”

No play areas, no sports facilities, nor any safe spaces for self-expression…

Yet adolescence is not the end of childhood, but the beginning of another vulnerable period. Therefore, ignoring adolescents also means amplifying risks.

The role of civil society: Remind, monitor, persist

While emphasizing the vital importance of civil society organizations’ fieldwork during the major disaster we experienced, Hasan Deniz also points out that civil society not only provides support but also plays a role in reminding, monitoring, criticizing, and demanding better: “Civil society has a reminder and supervisory function. This is a very critical contribution to disaster preparedness.”

Disasters will continue to happen. The real question is: Will we start from scratch every time?

As Hasan Deniz emphasizes: “Being prepared and developing a holistic approach creates the strongest difference for children.” 

Therefore, preparing for disasters is not a choice but a responsibility when it comes to children.