Theme:
Humanitarian Settings
About the Issue:
Hundreds of millions of children worldwide are living in humanitarian and mass displacement situations, forced to flee their homes due to violent conflict, political or economic crises, natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, and/or fear of persecution. These prolonged periods, often lasting several decades, deprive young children of the critical support needed to survive and reach their full potential.
This urgent situation underscores the need for immediate interventions to address the acute needs of children in crises, including mental health support, protection from exploitation and violence, and essential services such as education and nutrition.
ECDAN collaborates closely with other global networks focused on serving children in humanitarian settings, such as the Early Childhood Peace Consortium, Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies, International Rescue Committee, Moving Minds Alliance, Sesame Workshop, among others, to raise the visibility of this issue and get resources to partners directly serving children and families. ECDAN partners have compiled key data and resources to equip caregivers, educators, policymakers, and humanitarian workers with the necessary tools to help young children overcome these challenges and thrive.
Why it Matters
The accumulation of these adversities in the critical first years of life—when brain development occurs at the most rapid pace—can have long-term negative impacts on a child’s future learning, behavior, and health. For infants and young children growing up in crisis contexts, quality ECD interventions can save lives and set the foundation for a more positive life trajectory.
Remote ECD services are crucial in humanitarian crises as they ensure children continue receiving essential support despite disruptions. These services provide stability, maintain learning continuity, and offer guidance to caregivers, especially in areas where traditional ECD programs are inaccessible, helping to reduce the long-term impacts of trauma on young children. Learn more.
Resources
- More than 400 million children currently live in countries affected by conflict, with many suffering from the severe impacts of displacement, violence, and loss of stability.
- An estimated 87 million children under the age of 7 have spent their entire lives in conflict zones.
- In 2023, at least 17.6 million children (a 22 percent jump from a decade ago), or one child every two seconds, will be born into hunger this year, largely due to economic instability, conflicts, and repeated climate shocks.
- In 2018, 29 million babies were born in conflict settings. The situation has worsened as conflicts persist and new crises emerge.
- There is significant under-investment in ECD during emergencies. In 2017, only 3.3 percent of total development aid was allocated to crisis-affected countries, highlighting the need for increased funding to support young children in these vulnerable settings.
- Most ECD in Humanitarian and Refugee Response Plans do not include ECD interventions that are recommended in the Nurturing Care Framework through various sectors.
In humanitarian situations, multiple adversities threaten young children’s ability to flourish and reach their full potential. These include:
- Increased risk of separation from or loss of parents or primary caregivers.
- Physical injury and disability.
- Loss of stability, consistent routines, and comforts of home and community.
- Experiencing or witnessing violence.
- Lack of early learning opportunities.
- Lack of health checkups and immunizations.
- Poor nutrition and malnutrition.
Exposure to repeated or prolonged challenging circumstances, such as those faced by children living through conflict or other emergency contexts, can result in increased levels of cortisol flooding a child’s brain. This response, known as “toxic stress”, can disrupt brain development and affect learning, behavior, and health with long-lasting impacts on both the child and the societies in which they live.
Experiences of conflict and crisis can also influence caregiving behaviors, depriving young children of the stable, responsive, and nurturing care they need to thrive.
Education
- Early Childhood Education (ECE) spaces: ECE refers to opportunities for children usually 3 to 6 years old to access learning and development activities, often through an established temporary tent or space. ECE can be conducted through Child Friendly Spaces, outside or existing community spaces. The focus can be on psychosocial support and play-based learning or more formal academic learning.
Child Protection
- Child Friendly Spaces: Child Friendly Spaces are initially established in acute emergencies to provide a safe and protective place for young children to go to play and learn. Child Friendly Spaces are often part of Child Protection projects and can include children of all ages that use the space at different times of the day.
- Psychosocial well-being: Child Protection actors often support activities that promote psycho-social well-being through establishing sports activities, play groups, small peer to peer groups or providing individualized counseling services for those in need.
- Birth registration and links to social services: Child Protection actors can help families obtain birth registration and critical information for families to access other social services (e.g. mental health support, economic support).
Support for Parents and Caregivers
- Parents and caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers in life. Supporting their well-being, knowledge and skills is therefore critical for young children’s ability to survive and thrive. This support can be provided in various ways, including:
- Home visits and conversations with health professionals or social workers.
- Peer-to-peer parenting groups where parents can discuss challenges they are facing in raising their children.
- Key messages shared through multiple channels such as television, WhatsApp, text messages, radio, and advertising.
- General support in the areas of employment, psychosocial well-being and education.
Health
- Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) programs provide essential health support, such as immunizations and “kangaroo mother care,” which are vital for the health and well-being of young children. MNCH initiatives also ensure that pregnant women receive proper antenatal care and offer breastfeeding support to new mothers. When these health services are complemented by other supports, such as educating parents on providing cognitive stimulation and understanding stages of child development, the positive impact on children’s ability to survive and thrive is significantly enhanced.
- Mental health and psychosocial support are essential components of humanitarian programs aimed at reducing and preventing the escalation of stress. Caregivers’ mental health challenges can significantly impact their ability to provide nurturing and responsive care to their children. The health sector can support families by offering various types of mental health and psychosocial interventions, including peer support groups, one-on-one counseling, and referrals to mental health professionals. Additionally, the health sector should focus on the mental health of children and front-line workers, ensuring comprehensive support across all levels. Integrating mental health and psychosocial support across various sectors enhances the overall effectiveness of humanitarian efforts, providing holistic care for affected communities.
Nutrition
- Responsive feeding for infants and young children is a critical component of ECD support in emergency situations. It helps mothers continue breastfeeding during humanitarian crises, ensuring that children receive proper nutrition, attention, and responsive care during feeding. These services also include supporting maternal nutrition and providing simple, actionable nutrition messages to families, ensuring that both mothers and children maintain their health and well-being despite the challenges posed by emergencies.
