When crisis meets every day-life

The last couple of weeks we have met people in shock and despair throughout the affected areas in Serbia and Bosnia. We have been in shock and despair ourselves.

But, at the same time, we have met a collective mentality in people that has given so much back to us. People have teamed up and cleaned neighborhoods, helped each other out, and volunteered in collective centers. In state of emergency, we have proved ourselves to be a strong group.

Now, water is withdrawing and daily life is slowly returning. For the weeks and months to come we will find ourselves somewhere in between crisis and the life we are used to. This might not be as life threatening as fighting the force of nature, but it will definitely be challenging. So many people meet this state without a home to return to.

Children in the collective centre in Zenica engaged in activities organized by Save the Children
PHOTO: Hanne Bjugstad

We have to find out how we most efficiently can help those who lost everything. We need to make sure that the damages on land, businesses and infrastructure are repaired as soon as possible so we are able to get on. And we have to take good care of our children, so they can get on.

Natural disasters cause big traumas for lots of reasons, but maybe mostly because we are reminded of how small we are compared to nature. This can be very traumatizing to a child. How do you cope when you realize that your parents aren’t the leaders of the universe? 

The hug - children engaged in activities organized by Save the Children
PHOTO: Hanne Bjugstad

Save the Children are now setting up Child Friendly Spaces in affected areas of Bosnia and Serbia. Here we will reach out to children with activities and a space to play and learn. Here they will get a break from the unusual surroundings they now have to deal with. We will also provide psychological support to release the tension and trauma our kids now face. We have already started with activities in the collective center in Zenica, and we are happy to see that even in state of emergency; children are still children. They light up in playful activities with each other and forget the world around them.