Reducing disaster risks for urban children: insights from four Asian cities

Urban children who live and work on the streets are among the most vulnerable and susceptible to disasters. Yet few urban disaster risk reduction programmes in Asia focus on children, and most remain dominated by preparedness, early warning and response. While these approaches remain important, such programmes cannot address the backlog of need for basic infrastructure and services that underpins urban risks to children and other vulnerable groups. This briefing presents findings from a study of urban children’s risk and agency in Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), Manila (the Philippines) and Jakarta (Indonesia). It
outlines priority action areas for child-centred organisations seeking to tackle children’s long-term disaster risks in Asian cities.