Around the world, emergencies (a crisis that overwhelms a society to the point that it cannot cope using its resources alone) of natural and/or human causes are occuring more frequently each year. Examples include natural disasters, such as a tsunami or earthquake, war, refugee crises, famine, drought and floods. Some happen suddenly, but many others - such as famine and war - build up over time and can be predicted. Many crises are 'chronic' in that they last for several years and a state of crisis becomes the norm.

Emergencies often result in population displacement, lack of humanitarian access, breakdown in family and social structures, erosion of traditional value systems, a culture of violence, weak governance, absence of accountability and a lack of access to basic social services.

Children are particularly vulnerable in emergencies because they are physically weaker than adults and risk being separated from their families. Their needs in case of emergencies are grouped into categories such as:

• Material (such as shelter and food)
• Developmental (e.g., schooling and play)
• Emotional (protection and psychological healing) 

In 2007 Save the Children Canada contributed to many Alliance-led emergency relief efforts, delivering humanitarian aid in response to natural disasters and armed conflict. To learn more about the specific ways we respond to emergencies, please read our  2006-2007 Annual Report 

Save the Children Canada works with individual and government donors to secure funds to pay for food, clothing, shelter, child protection services, tools, and health care. At an international level we lobby for more money to be spent on protecting children in emergencies and for action to solve the root causes.

Save the Children Canada believes in supplying emergency help as part of a longer-term plan to support people's self-reliance and future development. Even in severe crises we take a developmental longer-term approach, for example by providing education, or giving people seeds and tools for replanting. To ensure our response is sustainable, where possible we work through and support existing systems rather than set up our own. 

Long-Term Development Activities After an Emergency:

• Establishing early warning systems
• Continued reconstruction and rehabilitation of schools, health clinics and hospitals
• Rebuilding the social, economic and physical infrastructure of communities
• Reduction of child and youth involvement in armed conflict through education and peace-building
• Developing peace-building models that meet the social, emotional, cultural needs of girls and boys
• Promoting the involvement of children and young people in development projects in schools and communities
• While often temporary in nature, safe play spaces and structured activities established after an emergency contribute to the longer-term psychosocial healing of children.  

News:

In 2007 Save the Children was asked to co-lead the Education Cluster activities which take place in humanitarian and natural disaster emergencies.  > What is the importance of UN Clusters?