International Donor Agencies' Guidelines for Responding to Children in Emergencies

The document review discusses selected guidelines and recommendations that international actors have formulated as a result of experience providing relief for young children in emergencies. Its purpose is to help develop response plans for future emergencies. The failure to respond to and protect children from escalating threats in emergencies has many consequences including a loss of educational opportunity and a long-term social cost. The prevent these tragedies children's core needs need to be met in safe, protected and structured settings, with support provided for caregivers. The document review is followed by a discussion of the guidelines and recommendations for the future development of response guidelines.