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This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
USAID Assistance to Children Affected by War
U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov
(202) 712-4320
#99-157FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gabrielle Bushman
Monday, November 1, 1999Around the globe today, children in over 50 countries are suffering the effects of armed conflict. Children who are the victims of trauma, violence and involuntary participation in war are not the only ones who are directly affected. Essentially, all children living in conflict areas suffer from varying degrees of anxiety and emotional distress that, if not effectively addressed, can adversely affect them for the remainder of their lives.
For each child who is killed or injured by physical violence, gunfire or land mines, many more are deprived of their basic physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs. Millions of children have lost their parents, siblings, homes and education. Girls especially are victimized in ways that can have a life-long impact.
It is estimated that there are more than 400,000 unaccompanied refugees or internally displaced children and over 300,000 child combatants.
The U.S. Agency for International Development funds programs to assist four categories of children affected by war:
- Displaced children separated from their families;
- Children who have suffered social, emotional or physical trauma;
- Older children who are in need of economic opportunities;
- Child soldiers and other children forced into service.
USAID provides assistance to these children through a variety of programs designed to:
- Document, trace and reunify children with families;
- Support psychosocial adjustment of children in distress;
- Facilitate reintegration of children into communities;
- Support formal and informal education opportunities
- Demobilization, reintegration and reunification of children and communities impacted by war.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has the following programs to assist children affected by war:
Displaced Children's and Orphans Fund: Through the Displaced Children and Orphan's Fund, USAID funds non-governmental organizations to provide direct service to children. While this fund also provides resources for HIV/AIDS orphans, street children and disabled children, over half of its budget assists children impacted by war. Programs that specifically address children who have been adversely affected by war are located in Angola, Congo, Croatia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Kosovo). Approximate FY 2000 budget is $11 million.
Patrick J. Leahy War Victims Fund: This fund is dedicated to improving the mobility, health, and social integration of adults and children who have sustained physical disabilities as a direct or indirect result of war or civil strife. The fund provides support for victims of war in 15 countries. It helps provide prosthetic assistance for victims who have lost limbs as a result of landmines and other war-related injuries. Approximate FY 2000 budget is $12 million.
International Disaster Assistance: In recent years, USAID has sponsored programs for children with international disaster assistance funds in post-conflict countries. Approximate FY 2000 budget is $2.1 million.
Following are examples of U.S. Agency for International Development programs that assist children affected by war:
Angola: Through the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund, USAID programs helped reintegrate nearly 300,000 war-affected children into their communities. To date, this project assisted in the demobilization and reintegration of 4100 former soldiers and reunited 2500 children with their families.
Colombia: USAID has established a scholarship fund for students ages 8 to 18 who would otherwise be recruited either voluntarily or forcibly into guerrilla groups. In collaboration with the International Committee for the Red Cross, USAID has created a "Peace Fund" that addresses the priority needs of communities severely affected by conflict where the state has limited or no presence. The communities decide on their immediate priorities, and the majority to date have been schools and sports facilities for youth. USAID also sponsored a conference to design a national strategy to address the needs, of child soldiers, as well as children who live in conflict areas and who have been displaced by violence.
Liberia: Under the "War Affected Youth Support" program, USAID provides over $3 million to support vocational training, reunification and other social and counseling interventions. These efforts facilitate the return to peaceful and productive existence for thousands of former fighters and other war affected children and youth.
Sierra Leone: USAID is launching a national campaign to provide basic literacy and math skills to young people ages 12-25 who missed education opportunities because of war and displacement. Basic education will provide these youth with avenues for pursuing a positive future and help make them valuable, non-violent members of society; capable of contributing to national reconciliation and reconstruction. An estimated 60,000 young people, beginning with ex-combatants and other war-affected youth will participate.
Sri Lanka: USAID supports programs that promote community-based healing processes for children traumatized in the ongoing 16-year ethnic conflict. Working in 106 villages, this project will reach more than 6000 children and approximately 2800 children have returned to school.
Uganda: USAID supports programs to reintegrate formerly abducted children into their families and communities. Given that 191 (of 263) schools were displaced or destroyed in northern Uganda, this grants focuses on community-based approaches to getting children back to school.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.
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Last Updated on: July 12, 2001 |
