Disaster affected children
Photo: Shaikh Mohir Uddin / Driknews
Davender Kumer's article about the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which hit Japan on 11 March last year, published in this daily on 11 March this year focused on an important issue, that many survivors could be going through serious emotional distress in silence without seeking any help. It is said that this earthquake was one of the most powerful in recorded history. It also created such a severe emotional impact on its survivors that has not happened since the Second World War. However, Japan has launched a robust response to tsunami damage to return to 'business as usual' within five years. But missing, as the article says, from the equation is any discussion to comprehensively address the emotional and psychological needs of the survivors. Child's right organisation Plan has come across deeply disturbing stories of children affected by the disaster, such as being scared to flush toilets as it reminds them of tsunami waves. However, it is noteworthy that the perceived social duty to be resilient and common confusion of psychological care with mental illness in Japan means those in real need may never seek any help. Stoicism might build this mindset. So the psychotherapists are evolving ways to reach the people suffering from emotional distress. Anyway, disaster management organisations/departments should learn lessons and methods from this experience. However, after a disaster hits a place in the world, irrespective of poor and rich region, emotional distress of the survivors, especially the children, should be considered as a humanitarian need and it must not be ignored.
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