Attachments
Editorial
From the viewpoint of the International Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support (PS Centre) many things are happening in the field of psychosocial support (PS). In the current issue of Coping with Crisis we have chosen to link up to some of the new or on-going activities in the area of PS.
During the summer of 2007 the world experienced new emerging crises and old crises have continued. In Lebanon civilians in a refugee camp were caught in the crossfire between militant groups and the Lebanese Army and massive flooding in Asia has affected lives of millions. The conflicts in Iraq,
Afghanistan and Israel/Palestine are still making the living conditions for their citizens extremely difficult. The need for PS is not decreasing. The need to heal wounded souls remains.
In the Middle East and North African the focus given to PS is increasing. The complicated political situation creates unfortunate conditions created which have a growing interest in PS. The article Supporting School Children in the West Bank by Jérôme Grimaud gives an example by showing how a programme by Palestine Red Crescent, Danish Red Cross and French Red Cross helps children and parents in the occupied territories.
Russian Red Cross (RRC) has shown that the capacity to provide PS in a relief situation can be transferred well from one region to another. Nurses and psychologists from the RRC Rehabilitation Centre in Beslan have provided help to 600 people affected by two mine blasts in Siberia earlier this year. Mine Blasts in Siberia by Margarita Plotnikova tells how PS is spreading from one part of Russia to another.
In the PS Centre we also try to gather knowledge on how particularly vulnerable groups can benefit from PS. Children’s rights are neglected and violated all over the world every day.
Protection: A Right and a Responsibility, by Judi Fairholm deals with children’s conditions in and outside areas of disaster.
It is a brutal but important reminder for all of us that children need and have the right to be protected from harm. In Children and Trauma in Areas of Disaster Peter Berliner and Stephen Regel provide a review of recent research on children’s reactions in areas of disaster. They call for more academic and applied research in this field.
Finally, we are happy to be able to announce that the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings have been launched and is now available. They may be downloaded from our website (http://psp.drk.dk). A CD-ROM can also be acquired free of charge. Please contact psp-referencecentre@drk.dk for further information. The guidelines express the consensus of a large number of humanitarian agencies on how best to plan and implement psychosocial support programmes in emergencies, with the aim of providing high quality service and to speed up the recovery of those affected.
I want to thank, personally and on the behalf of the growing team, National Societies for the support we have enjoyed. This includes my gratitude for the generous financial support which enables the work of the centre.
We hope you will enjoy reading our newsletter.
Yours sincerely,
Nana Wiedemann,
Head, International Federation Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support