Enhancing Children’s Resilience in Disasters

Emergency disaster preparation of all sections of the society plays an important role in reducing casualties, said Masoud Habibi, head of the Youth Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS). “Technical assistance, resources, and support for schools are key factors in preparation for emergencies,” he said on the sidelines of the Second Conference on Children’s Resilience in the Context of Natural Disasters to be held today, January 15, by the IRCS Youth Organization at the University of Tehran. Innovative methods for disaster mitigation and management to boost resilience among children and adolescents who are the most vulnerable groups in the face of trauma, and their speedy return to normal life, is a key topic at the confab. Under a scheme titled ‘Daadras’ (literally aid worker), the IRCS trains 400,000 high school students each year on eight major skills of rescue and relief in emergencies.