The Emotional Impact of Disaster on Children and Families

Brian Stafford, David Schonfeld, Lea Keselman, Peter Ventevogel, Carmen López Stewart

In addition to their profound effects on the life and infrastructure of communities, disasters produce a massive collective stress exceeding the ability of the affected population to cope with the physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Disaster episodes affect millions of people and exert a collective social suffering that requires a monumental effort by individuals, communities, societies, and the world community to overcome.

Key wordsarmed conflict / children / disaster / internally displaced persons

CategoryManuals and guidelines