Protecting Children in Emergencies – Escalating threats to children must be addressed. Policy Brief, Vol. 1, No.1, Spring 2005

Since 1990, over 2 million children have died as a direct result of armed conflict. At least 6 million children have been permanently disabled or seriously injured, and more than 1 million have been orphaned or separated from their families. In contrast to a century ago, when only 5 percent of war casualties were civilians, today more than 90 percent of those killed and wounded as a result
of hostilities are civilians, about half of them children. Despite these statistics, however, the protection of children remains a secondary concern for the international community in all phases of emergency response. It is against this backdrop, that this policy brief sets forth five specific recommendations to the international community urging for a better protection of children in emergencies in order to reduce their physical and emotional risks. Protecting children in crises must be a top priority in every stage of every emergency response.