9 Dec 2010 • Humanitarian crises Switzerland, Afghanistan, Syria - Jordan, Palestinian Territories, Sudan, Colombia, Sri Lanka

Every centime counts - Children Victims of Conflicts

- Published by Hornemann, Sarah

Following the success of the fundraising week "“Jeder Rappen zählt”, last year in Bern, Swiss German radio and television channels decided to repeat the operation in 2010 with Swiss Solidarity. The Swiss population donated more than 9.2 million francs to help the battle against malaria, the theme of the 2009 action. The second edition of this operation will take place again in the federal city from Monday 13th to Saturday 18th December. The money collected will go to help children who are victims of wars and armed conflicts around the world. Terre des hommes is working to rehabilitate affected children through educational activities, games, dance and sports in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Sudan, the Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Syria/Jordan and Columbia.

Terre des hommes and children victims of conflicts

Every two minutes a child dies in an armed conflict. More than 200,000 children die in this way each year. Terre des hommes brings aid to the victims of armed conflict: more than 400,000 children and their families, nearly a third of beneficiaries, are touched by conflict.

Terre des hommes is active in many countries where there is conflict or war. The children suffer particularly and are the earliest victims. 250,000 child soldiers are enlisted around the world. 43 million people have had to flee from conflicts, half of these are children. They lack food or are exploited. Worse, the displaced people and refugees are profoundly affected psychologically by what they have experienced during the war or in the course of their flight.

For children who are victims of conflicts, aid is mainly concentrated on psychosocial support. Terre des hommes runs refugee camps and organises the distribution of basic necessities. Malnourished children are cared for, the parents and their entourage are educated about health and protection, drinking water systems are installed and toilets are built. The children and their families also benefit from medical treatment. Terre des hommes brings aid that will change the situation in a lasting fashion. This is why we work with local organisations and the local authorities wherever possible. Volunteers are trained as part of the project and carry on the promotion of good practices amongst the population.

Terre des hommes sets up centres for children where they are given psychosocial assistance. In these safe places, they can do educational activities while playing, doing sport, drawing, acting. “Following a traumatic event, words are often not the best way to communicate with children. They express themselves more easily through play and drawing”, explains Maria Bray, psychologist and person in charge of psychosocial projects at Terre des hommes.

Children and their families are often isolated when their community is dispersed by a conflict. In recreational centres, they can be children again and better assimilate the traumatic experiences of which they have been victims. Terre des hommes works with the child’s entourage to reconstruct a social environment and bring the community together.

More on the the campaign «Jeder Rappen zählt!» in German

More on Tdh’s work in conflicts (PDF in German)

Tdh-Einsatz für Kinder im Krieg

Our Tdh-Team in Bern on December 15th: (from left to right) Robert Sandrieser, Responsible for Volunteer Work, Evelyne Hug, Responsible for Fundraising, Hanni Mathis, Trainee in Media Relations and Rudolf Gafner, Media speaker.