AlertNet child danger poll 2006
Last reviewed: 07-07-2006
Silent suffering in neglected crises
Sudan, northern Uganda and Congo are the world's three most dangerous places for children, followed by Iraq, Somalia, India, the Palestinian territories, Afghanistan, Chechnya and Myanmar, according to an AlertNet poll of humanitarian experts and journalists. Below is a list of who we polled and how they answered, plus a note on the methodology. For comprehensive coverage of the poll results click on these links:
THE POLL
AlertNet asked 112 humanitarian experts, policymakers, aid workers and journalists to name three places they considered to be the world's most dangerous for children. They were not required to rank their choices. Here's how the results tallied:
WHO SAID WHAT
| Who? | Choice 1 | Choice 2 | Choice 3 |
| Ayodeji Ajayeoba, Conflict and emergencies advisor, West Africa, ActionAid International | Iraq | Sudan (Darfur) | Nigeria (Niger Delta) |
| David Alexander, Professor of disaster management, University of Florence, Italy | Sierra Leone/Liberia | Laos | South Africa |
| Rachel Atkinson, Humanitarian Policy Team, Save the Children UK | Northern Uganda | Sudan (Darfur) | Sierra Leone |
| Martin Bell, UNICEF UK Ambassador and former BBC war correspondent | Congo | Sudan (Darfur) | Iraq |
| *Mihir R. Bhatt, Honorary director, All India Disaster Mitigation Institute | Vulnerable schools exposed to disasters | Urban slums | Refugee/relief camps |
| Leila Billing, Programmes coordinator, War Child UK | Iraq | Afghanistan | Congo |
| Jan Boeynaems, Finance director, MSF Belgium | Congo | Somalia | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Naomi Bourne, Logistics manager, Save the Children UK | Northern Uganda | Congo | Colombia |
| Lakhdar Brahimi, Former special adviser to the U.N. secretary-general | Palestinian territories | Afghanistan | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Alex Brans, Emergencies advisor, Save the Children | Northern Uganda | Northeast Sri Lanka | Chechnya |
| Olivier Braunsteffer, Programme director, CARE France | Northern Uganda | Eastern Congo | Brazil's cities for street children |
| *Salvano Briceno, Director, U.N. International Strategy for Disaster Reduction | Homes and schools not built to withstand natural hazards | Slums in urban areas, in particular megacities | Children alone and unable to protect themselves in emergencies |
| Tricia Bullen, London bureau co-ordinator, Children's Express | Cambodia | India | Kenya |
| Tim Butcher, Middle East correspondent, The Daily Telegraph | Sub-Saharan Africa | Palestinian territories | Iraq (non-Kurdish) |
| Wendy Chamberlin, United Nations deputy high commissioner for refugees | Northern Uganda | Laos (H'mong children) | Nepal (girls trafficked to India) |
| Francesco Checchi, | Congo (eastern provinces) | Northern Uganda (conflict-affected districts) | Zimbabwe |
| Sam Chimwaza, Malawi country representative, Famine Early Warning Systems Network | Sudan (Darfur) | Iraq | |
| Tamuka Chitemere, Disaster management officer, IFRC | Colombia (drug trafficking) | Palestinian Territories (conflict zones) | Sudan |
| *Komborero Daniel Choga, Africa region senior sponsorship advsior, World Vision International (Africa regional office) | 'Informal' adpotive family context | Situations of child labour, especially mining and situations involving using agro chemicals | Child/edlerly headed households |
| Laura Conrad, Head of news, Save the Children | Sudan (Darfur) | Congo | Northern Uganda |
| Elayne Devlin, Communications manager, Plan International | Sudan (Darfur) | Togo | Northern Uganda |
| Leonard Doyle, Foreign editor, The Independent | Congo | Iraq | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Valery Dzutsev, North Caucasus coordinator, Institute for War and Peace Reporting | Chechnya | Africa | |
| Jan Egeland, | Congo | Northern Uganda | Afghanistan |
| Heather Elliott, Editor, World Vision | Sudan (Darfur) | Australia (indigenous communities) | Palestinian territories (Gaza) |
| J. Michel Emeryk, Programme support manager, International Medical Corps | Afghanistan | Congo | Iraq |
| Gareth Evans, President and chief executive officer, International Crisis Group | Uganda | ||
| Mia Farrow, Hollywood actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador | Sudan (Darfur) | Northern Uganda | Congo |
| Amalia Fawcett, Advocacy and policy analyst, World Vision New Zealand | Papua New Guinea (HIV/AIDS and child abuse) | Northern Uganda (conflict, HIV/AIDS, | Palestinian territories (conflict, lack of opportunities, family violence) |
| Alison Freebairn, Editorial manager, British Red Cross | Afghanistan | Uzbekistan | Somalia |
| Georgia Galati, Desk officer, Medecins Du Monde, Greece | Sudan | Iraq | Colombia |
| Sheila George, Manager, EFICOR | Africa | Sudan (Darfur) | India |
| Janine di Giovanni, Foreign correspondent, The Times and Vanity Fair | Iraq | Sierra Leone | Palestinian territories |
| Edward Girardet, Editor and writer, Christian Science Monitor/National Geographic | Somalia | Sudan (southern Sudan and Darfur) | Northern Uganda |
| Coleen Grove, Manager of ministry development/church partnerships, World Concern | Myanmar | S. Africa | Zimbabwe |
| Antonio Guterres, United Nations high commissioner for refugees | Darfur (Sudan-Chad border) | Congo | Uganda |
| Roy Gutman, Foreign editor, Newsday | Congo | Darfur | Myanmar |
| Ronny Hansen, Programme coordinator, Norwegian Refugee Council | Afghanistan | Sudan | Colombia |
| Emmanuel d'Harcourt, Senior child survival technical advisor, International Rescue Committee | Northern Uganda | Sudan (south) | Sierra Leone |
| Gabriela Hartig, Information delegate, Austrian Red Cross | Chechnya | Congo | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Kate Harrison, Senior technical advisor: children, International HIV/AIDS Alliance | Congo (Kinshasa) | South Africa | Northern Uganda |
| Aidan Hartley, Journalist and author | Somalia | Congo | Kenya |
| Rachel Hastie, Protection officer, Oxfam GB | Northern Uganda | Liberia | Congo |
| Alex D. Haxton, Director of operations, World Emergency Relief | Northern Uganda | Sudan (south) | Liberia |
| Carolina Hernandez, Health unit manager, International Rescue Committee | Congo | Sudan (Darfur) | Northern Uganda |
| Lindsey Hilsum, International editor, Channel 4 News (UK) | Rural China | Sudan (Darfur) | Iraq |
| Enamul Hoque, Regional public health advisor, Oxfam GB | Palestinian territories | Iraq | Afghanistan |
| Todd Holmes, Senior programme manager, Egypt, Catholic Relief Services | Haiti (Port-au-Prince) | Northern Uganda | Iraq |
| Luc Humble, Coordinator for international emergency relief, Belgian Red Cross - Flanders | Haiti (poverty, HIV/AIDS, lack of vital services, hunger, child labour) | North Korea (poverty and hunger) | Myanmar (child labour, armed conflict, detention without cause, lack of freedom of expression, poverty, hunger) |
| Anna Jefferys, Humanitarian advocacy adviser, Save the Children UK | Sudan | Northern Uganda | Congo |
| Ilan Kelman, Researcher, Center for Capacity Building, National Center for Atmospheric Research | Sierra Leone | Angola | Niger |
| Nader Khalili, Architect/director, Cal-Earth Institute | Africa | India | United States (depressed urban zones) |
| Marc Lacey, Nairobi bureau chief, The New York Times | Iraq | Somalia | Congo |
| Anne Larrass, Communications, CARE Canada | Congo | India | Chad |
| Silva Lauffer, Programme manager - humanitarian services, RedR-IHE | Northern Uganda | Southern Sudan | |
| Sarah Lockyer, International liaison officer/fundraising, Oxfam | Northern Uganda | ||
| William O. Lowrey, Director of peacebuilding and reconciliation, World Vision International | Northern Uganda | Eastern Congo | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Gill Lusk, Deputy editor, Africa Confidential | Sudan (Darfur) | Northern Uganda | Congo (northeast - Kinshasa) |
| *Maureen Lynch, Director of research, Refugees International | Congo | Stateless children | Children in immigration/asylum detention (especially unaccompanied) |
| Iain Maclennan, Public health doctor, IHE/RedR | Colombia (Bogota) | Congo | India (Mumbai) |
| Nigel Marsh, Senior advisor for communications, World Vision Africa Region | Northern Uganda | Congo (eastern) | Somalia |
| Monica Martin, Child and youth protection coordinator - emergency response team, International Rescue Committee | Sudan (Darfur) | Palestinian territories | Congo |
| Joanna Mayhew, HIV/AIDS grants coordinator, World Relief | Congo | Haiti | Sudan |
| Yasmin McDonnell, Policy analyst, ActionAid International | Sudan (Darfur) | Uganda | Bangladesh |
| Maurice McQuillan, Emergency programme manager, Catholic Relief Services (Emergency response Team) | Northern Uganda (where the Lord's Resistance Army is active) | Southern Sudan (where the Lord's Resistance Army is active) | Northeast Congo (where the Lord's Resistance Army is active) |
| Kiruja Micheni, Security manager, Christian Aid | Iraq | Somalia | Afghanistan |
| Srdjan Miocinovic, RedR member | Iraq | Sudan | Afghanistan |
| Henri Migala, Director, international health programmes, International Relief Teams | Sudan | Iraq | Sierra Leone |
| Lydia Mirembe, Information officer, Uganda Red Cross Society | Northern Uganda | Iraq | |
| Anuradha Mittal, Executive director, The Oakland Institute | United States | Brazil | India |
| Liana Mkheidze, Programme manager, Caritas Georgia | Northern Uganda | ||
| Tasneem Mowjee, Researcher, Development Initiatives | Northern Uganda | Bangladesh | Somalia |
| Carolin Mueller, Assistant to the editor, German Red Cross | Sudan | Congo | China |
| Stephen Mutiso, Programme officer for Uganda and Tanzania, Trocaire East Africa regional office | Northern Uganda | Somalia | Sudan |
| *Mtumwa Mfikirwa, Director of human resources and legal affairs, CARE International (Tanzania) | On the streets at night | In a bar | In an area of armed conflict |
| Adam Mynott, East Africa correspondent, BBC | Northern Uganda | Sudan (Darfur) | India (northern) |
| Tariq Nasir, Projects manager, Muslim Hands | Chechnya | India (Kashmir) | Ethiopia |
| Mamadou Ndiaye, Director, OFADEC (Office for Development and Cooperation in Africa) | Chechnya | Palestinian Territories | Somalia |
| Moyiga Nduru, Associate Editor, Inter Press Service News Agency | Congo | Northern Uganda | India |
| Patrick Nicholson, Head of Media, CAFOD | Niger | Mali | Nigeria |
| Michael G. Nielsen, Head of communications, MSF Denmark | Sudan (Darfur) | Congo | Zimbabwe |
| Lizzy Noone, Development education officer, Concern | Working behind closed doors as domestic labour | Early marriage | Child labour in all forms |
| Richard C. Paddock, Southeast Asia bureau chief, Los Angeles Times | Myanmar | ||
| Eric Pape, Reporter, Newsweek | Sudan (Darfur) | Congo | Myanmar |
| Marla Petal, Consultant, Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute in Turkey | Unsafe schools and housing, vulnerable to known and expected natural hazards | ||
| Silke Pietzsch, Emergency food security and nutrition advisor, Oxfam | Congo | Niger | Myanmar |
| Sicko Pijpker, Programme Officer, Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation (ICCO) | Congo (eastern) | Northern Uganda | Sudan (Darfur) |
| Linda Poteat, Senior programme manager, disaster response, InterAction | Congo | Uganda | Sudan |
| Kathryn Rawe, Media officer (emergencies), Save the Children UK | Northern Uganda | Somalia | Nigeria |
| Xan Rice, East Africa correspondent, The Guardian | Congo | Sudan | Somalia |
| Emma Roberts, Humanitarian affairs advisor, Save the Children | North Korea | Uganda | Sudan |
| Nic Robertson, Senior international correspondent, CNN | Iraq | Sudan (Darfur) | |
| Alicia Martin Rodie, Journalist, Mans Unides (United Hands) | Congo | Somalia | Sudan |
| Janet Root, Assistant web editor, World Vision | Congo | Uganda | India (girl child) |
| Sam Sherman, Security coordinator, InterAction | Congo | Uganda | Liberia |
| *Sophie Shirt, Editor, Global Gang website for children, Christian Aid | Palestinian territories (refugee camps) | Conflict zones such as Darfur, Sudan, Uganda | Countries with high HIV rates |
| Michael Siva, Media officer, Muslim Aid | Brazil | Congo | Palestinian territories |
| Jon Snow, Presenter, Channel 4 News (UK) | Somalia | Congo | Afghanistan |
| Sean Sutton, Photographer and Information Manager, Mines Advisory Group | Congo | Sudan | Botswana |
| Clare Tauben, Managing editor, Africa Confidential | Sudan (Darfur) | Northern Uganda | Congo (eastern) |
| Krista Threefoot, Proposal writer, Catholic Relief Services | Northern Uganda | ||
| Aliev Timur, Chief editor, The Chechen Society newspaper | Iraq | Uganda | Chechnya |
| Samantha Tuck, Programme officer, Methodist Relief & Development Fund | Northern Uganda | Bangladesh | India |
| Tony Vaux, Consultant, Humanitarian Initiatives | Northern Uganda | Congo | Somalia |
| Julie Verhaar, Head of fundraising, Netherlands Red Cross | Congo | Sudan (Darfur) | Uganda |
| Nuria del Viso, Peace and security project coordinator, Centro de Investigacion para la Paz (CIP-FUHEM) | Sudan | Cambodia | Nepal |
| Fred Weir, Moscow correspondent, Christian Science Monitor | Most of sub-Saharan Africa | Iraq | Haiti |
| Gordon Weiss, Communications officer for countries in crisis, UNICEF | Congo | Uganda | Sudan |
| Ellie Whinnery, Global communications manager, Christian Children's Fund | Chad | Sudan | |
| Hazel Wong, Policy advisor - gender equity, Oxfam Hong Kong | Sudan (Darfur) | Pakistan (gender-based violence against young girls and early marriage of girls) | Cambodia (sexual trafficking of young girls) |
| Michela Wrong, Author and journalist | Northern Uganda | Sudan (Darfur) | Brazil (slums) |
| Asked not to be identified, Web manager for international NGO | Sudan |
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