The ManicaPost
Justice for Children (JCT) joins the rest of Africa in commemorating the Day of the African Child. This year’s theme, Humanitarian Action in Africa: Children’s Rights First comes apt in the wake of Cyclone Idai’s unmatched destruction in the eastern parts of Zimbabwe. The theme is an appreciation of the vulnerability of children and a call to action for all duty bearers to put children’s rights first.
On the 15th of March 2019 Cyclone Idai hit parts of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi, and in Zimbabwe it left behind a trail of destruction in seven districts: Chipinge, Chimanimani, Buhera, Bikita, Mutare, Gutu and Chiredzi.
The livelihoods of over 270,000 people across these districts were affected, a significant number being children. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that “many (have) lost civil registration documents that ensure identification, protection and access to entitlements, such as birth, death and marriage certificates.
An estimated 100,000 people need duplicate civil registration documents and mobile registration; 90,000 people including 60,000 children need protection services including PSS and GBV-related services; and 1,500 separated and unaccompanied children are in need of identification, documentation, tracing and reunification (IDTR) services.
The UNICEF Zimbabwe Humanitarian Situation Report estimated that as at 21 March 2019, 250 000 people including 120 000 children, were affected.
There is no doubt that one of the four core principles of child protection – life, survival and development – is threatened in times of crisis. Provision of health care, food, clothing and shelter is required.
As focus is made on immediate needs, JCT calls upon government, development partners, and everyone involved in the disaster response to begin to expeditiously look at other crucial aspects that include reconstruction of infrastructure including schools and hospitals, replacement of vital documentation that includes birth certificates, and addressing trauma emerging from the horrifying scenes and losses the children were exposed to.
The children who were orphaned or separated from their families require protection from exposure to further trauma and abuses as well as tracing of families and reunification.
Whilst prompt disaster response and reconstruction are an imperative, an even greater imperative is in prevention. Government and stakeholders are implored to develop and invest in disaster mitigation and early warning systems.
For the sanctity of life, the protection of children’s young and vulnerable lives, and the recognition of human dignity, man-made disasters must be prevented at all cost – including political conflict and economic decay.
Such disasters affect children more as they are one of the most vulnerable groups in any society. JCT therefore calls for the full protection of children’s rights as captured in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the child (ACRWC) and section 81 of the Constitution.
This ensures that children get holistic attention and are protected from exposure to unmitigated disasters in future.
