Paper considers effect of quakes on Christchurch children

The Child Poverty Action Group has released a background paper on how the Christchurch earthquakes have affected children.

Children and the Canterbury Earthquakes, authored by Nicola Shirlaw, considers the international research on how young people are affected by natural disasters, how the Canterbury earthquakes fit the framework, and how this has affected Christchurch's vulnerable children, particularly in relation to schools and housing.

The paper discusses the traumatic nature of an earthquake for children and young people, particularly with the loss of an immediate and familiar environment such as their home or school. For Christchurch, the multiple experiences of the earthquakes and aftershocks meant families required more recovery time.

Of note, the paper discusses the steep increase in demand for social and community services following the earthquakes, which has not abated. Aviva (formerly Christchurch Women's Refuge), reported a 50% increase in demand for services following the February 2011 earthquake, which has not returned to pre-earthquake levels. Aviva also reported compounding factors such as a lack of housing solutions which meant men were breaking protection orders to return home. The paper notes that while ongoing problems such as increases in rent and demand for housing continue, government aid for agencies supporting families has ended.

The paper concludes that the government needs to continue to consider the lasting effects of the earthquakes on Christchurch families when introducing change and calls on government and policy makers to respect the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 3(1), which places the best interests of the child as a primary consideration in all actions concerning children.

Media:

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Image: Happy child finds joy by Hillebrand Steve, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Licence: Public Domain