Ms. Takai stressed that in the face of climate change, the well-being of children are severely undermined on both the physical and the mental levels. Physically, children can easily fall victim to malnutrition and water scarcity. One of the most immediate effects in these situations is stunned body growth and poor physical condition, which leads to increase chance of infection. In the long run, the young victims can hardly live a flourishing life.
From the mental perspective, Ms. Takai mentioned that disasters leave deep emotional scars on the hearts of children. In many instances, they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The symptoms of the disorder include flashbacks of horrible scenes, insomnia and constant headaches. Without support from experts, children rarely recover from these traumas.
After emphasizing children’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters, Ms. Takai went on enumerating measures for alleviating the problems. For example, it is very important for organizations to take the lead in improving information flow of evacuation plans. In order to protect themselves better, children ought to know clearly about the exact locations of evacuation points in their hometowns. Another example is the setting up of child friendly spaces in affected areas. These spaces provide a desirable environment for children to recover from disasters, as they include various educational and recreational activities that help to ensure that affected children can re-establish a normal routine as soon as possible.
The efforts made by Ms. Takai and various organizations should be recognized by everyone. It is hoped that students and advisors at JEMUN will be influenced by her experience and become more proactive in offering a helping hand to children in disasters.
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Photo by Rinki Maemoto