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Multiple protection-related concerns were raised by children in situations of armed conflict
during focus group discussions on other issues, including recruitment into armed forces/
armed groups, safety concerns in shelters including sexual violence and discrimination,
child marriage, child labour, challenges to accessing education including violence and the
threat of violence. These are explored in greater detail under RESEARCH QUESTION 4: WHAT
ARE CHILDREN’S PERSPECTIVES ON THEIR NEEDS IN CONFLICT?, but are clearly relevant
when considering barriers to humanitarian effectiveness. In Syria, these multiple violations
were not identified as a priority, because children’s overwhelming priority was safety. A
child in Homes noted: “Safety is everything and without it nothing is possible.”. 130 Children
raised concerns not only about safety and security, but also a lack of certainty and fear
of the future: “When will it end?” “What will happen next?” “What will happen to us?” These
questions were asked by children in multiple communities. 131
In Thailand after the 2010 flood both boys and girls described stress, worry, fear and
sadness as major concerns along with physical illness: “All children expressed fear due to
the situation being out of their perceived control.” 132 In Haiti, consultations revealed “that
children and youth in all nine departments are experiencing trauma and fear. Most children
and youth show signs of trauma as a result of witnessing the numerous deaths, injuries and
disabilities caused by the earthquake”, and consultations “brought to light symptoms of
stress and trauma including lack of sleep and great anxiety.” 133 A boy in the 5-10 age group
said, “Any noise I hear, I think of the earthquake.” An 8-year-old girl shared, “I can’t sleep at
home. Seventeen of my friends were killed.” 134
However, evaluations conducted a couple of years after the Haiti earthquake indicated
that children’s perceptions had changed and education was now their main concern.
“Children in focus groups stated that emotional distress was the main post-earthquake
challenges that they and their friends faced. Children explained that their current priority
and aspiration for the future is education, relating to their hopes for the future.” 135
In the Philippines six weeks after the typhoon struck, consultations found “All groups
of children described feelings of worry and fear about another typhoon hitting their
communities. Many children identified the sound of winds and waves as being specific
noises that trigger feelings of fear and worry, particularly at night time when they are trying
to sleep.” 136 This state of fear was linked to other concerns, particularly felt at night with
lack of electricity, and concerning the supernatural and news-stories: younger children
“expressed fears of ghosts and ‘aswangs’ (witches) roaming around because of the dark’,
while older children were worried about escaped prisoners coming into their homes at
night.” 137
Children also described their fears of violence. In one consultation where most children
were living in an evacuation centre (Tent City), “the group talked at length about some
of the problems arising from adult consumption of alcohol. They described seeing fights