East Asia is one of the most climate-exposed and disaster-prone region. Up to 65% of children face multiple and increasingly frequent shocks, including flooding, drought, saltwater inundation, and climate-related diseases. Children and families living in poverty are disproportionately affected.

Margarettha Siregar shares six things the humanitarian industry should learn from the 2004 tsunami disaster

Disaster Risk Reduction Programming in Asia and the Pacific

This report presents the voices of 69 children—33 girls and 36 boys—aged 14 to 17 from 10 countries, sharing their experiences and perspectives on migration. Through consultations, they discussed key themes, including the drivers of migration, its impact on children, identity documentation, challenges in civil registration, and recommendations for strengthening civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems. The participating countries were Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

For the next few months, the only news that mattered in Indonesia, and probably around the world, was the mega Aceh Earthquake and Tsunami disaster, which that had claimed the lives of 230,000 people across multiple countries, including 100,000 of them in Aceh. It was a global grief moment.

Asia-Pacific is the most climate-exposed and disaster-prone region in the world. As many as 65% of children in East Asia are exposed to multiple shocks which are becoming increasingly frequent, especially flooding, drought, saltwater inundation, and climate-related diseases. Children and families living in poverty are particularly vulnerable, bearing the brunt of these recurrent crises and their longterm consequences.

World Vision has been a steadfast presence in East Asia since 1950, operating in Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Our multisector programmes are tailored to the needs and priorities of local communities. With the support of over 2,200 staff, more than 99% of whom are local, we deliver impactful and sustainable solutions.

The publication highlights the sponsorship approach of World Vision International Nepal.